unknown

unknown
[[t]ʌ̱nno͟ʊn[/t]]
♦♦♦
unknowns
1) ADJ If something is unknown to you, you have no knowledge of it.

An unknown number of demonstrators were arrested...

How did you expect us to proceed on such a perilous expedition, through unknown terrain...

The motive for the killing is unknown.

Ant:
N-COUNT
An unknown is something that is unknown.

The length of the war is one of the biggest unknowns.

2) ADJ An unknown person is someone whose name you do not know or whose character you do not know anything about.

Unknown thieves had forced their way into the apartment...

I could not understand how someone with so many awards could be unknown to me.

3) ADJ-GRADED An unknown person is not famous or publicly recognized.

He was an unknown writer.

...a popular environment where both established and unknown artists can meet, talk and drink.

N-COUNT
An unknown is a person who is unknown.

Within a short space of time a group of complete unknowns had established a wholly original form of humour.

4) ADJ: usu v-link ADJ If you say that a particular problem or situation is unknown, you mean that it never occurs.

A hundred years ago coronary heart disease was virtually unknown in Europe and America.

Syn:
5) N-SING: the N The unknown refers generally to things or places that people do not know about or understand.

Ignorance of people brings fear, fear of the unknown.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?
Synonyms:
/ , / , , , , / / , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Unknown — may refer to: * a lack of knowledge * a variable to be solved for in a mathematical equation * an actor or footballer or singer who is not yet famous * John Doe, an unknown person* Unknown unknown, an unanticipated uncertainty in a formal… …   Wikipedia

  • unknown — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ not known or familiar. ► NOUN ▪ an unknown person or thing. ● unknown to Cf. ↑unknown to …   English terms dictionary

  • unknown — [unnōn′] adj. not known; specif., a) not in the knowledge, understanding, or acquaintance of someone; unfamiliar (to) b) not discovered, identified, determined, explored, etc. n. 1. an unknown person or thing 2. an unknown mathematical quantity:… …   English World dictionary

  • unknown — (adj.) c.1300, strange, unfamiliar (of persons, places), from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + pp. of KNOW (Cf. know). Cf. O.E. ungecnawen. In ref. to facts, attested from early 14c. The noun meaning unknown person is recorded from 1590s …   Etymology dictionary

  • unknown to — ► unknown to without the knowledge of. Main Entry: ↑unknown …   English terms dictionary

  • Unknown — Un*known , a. Not known; not apprehended. {Un*known ness}, n. [R.] Camden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • unknown — index anonymous, blind (concealed), clandestine, covert, defunct, disputable, hidden, inexplicable …   Law dictionary

  • unknown — [adj] obscure, mysterious alien, anonymous, concealed, dark, desolate, distant, exotic, far, faraway, far off, foreign, hidden, humble, incog*, incognito, little known, nameless, new, remote, secret, so and so*, strange, such and such*,… …   New thesaurus

  • unknown — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 place/thing that you know nothing about ADJECTIVE ▪ big, great ▪ What the weather will be like on the day is, as always, the great unknown. VERB + UNKNOWN ▪ explore, face …   Collocations dictionary

  • unknown — un|known1 W2 [ˌʌnˈnəun US ˈnoun] adj, adv 1.) not known about ▪ The murderer s identity remains unknown . ▪ For some unknown reason , Mark quit his job and moved to Greece. ▪ a voyage through unknown territory ▪ An unknown number of people were… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”