night

night
night S1 W1 /naɪt/ noun [uncountable and countable]1.  WHEN IT IS DARK the dark part of each 24-hour period when the sun cannot be seen and when most people sleep
   OPP  day:
    It was a cold moonlit night.
    I didn’t sleep too well last night.
    at night
    At night the temperature drops below zero.
    in/during the night
    He woke up twice during the night.
    by night
    Many animals hunt by night.
    (on) Friday night/that night etc
    There was a storm on Friday night.
  GRAMMAR
    Use at night when talking about what generally or regularly happens then:
   ▪ The noise of the traffic keeps me awake at night.
    Use in the night when talking about an event that happens at some time during the night:
   ▪ There had been heavy rain in the night.
    Use by night to say what a person or animal does at night:
   ▪ We travelled by night.
    When you are mentioning a time before midnight, use at night:
   ▪ ten o'clock at night
    When you are mentioning a time after midnight, use in the morning:
   ▪ four in the morning
2.  EVENING the time during the evening until you go to bed:
    We had a really good meal last night.
    They stay in and watch television every night.
    She recognised him from the night before (=the previous evening).
    My parents are coming for dinner tomorrow night.
    Friday/Saturday etc night
    There’s a party at Ben’s place on Saturday night.
    We were on our way back from a night out (=an evening when you go to a party, restaurant, theatre etc) at the theatre.
    Anna doesn’t like him walking home late at night.
    quiz night/student night etc (=an evening when a particular event happens, especially at a bar, club etc)
3. nights if you do something nights, you do it regularly or often at night:
    I work nights, so I’m usually asleep during the day.
4. night__ spoken used to say goodbye to someone when it is late in the evening or when they are going to bed
   SYN  good night:
    Night__ See you tomorrow__
5. night night__ spoken used to say goodbye to someone, especially a child, when they are going to bed
6. night and day/day and night all the time:
    The store is guarded day and night.
    We had to work night and day to get it finished.
7. night or day/day or night at any time:
    You can call me any time, night or day.
8. night after night every night for a long period:
    He’s out drinking night after night.
9. first night/opening night the first performance of a play or show ⇨ premiere:
    We saw ‘Riverdance’ on its opening night.
10. spend the night with somebody/spend the night together to sleep with someone and have sex with them:
    And you thought we spent the night together?
11. a good night’s sleep a night when you sleep well:
    You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.
12. (have a) late/early night to go to bed later or earlier than usual:
    I think I’ll have an early night. ⇨ late-night
13. last thing at night at the end of the day, just before you go to bed:
    You should water plants either first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
⇨ nightly
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + night
   ▪ last night It rained last night.
   ▪ tomorrow night I should be back by tomorrow night.
   ▪ Friday/Saturday etc night I haven't seen him since Thursday night.
   ▪ an early night (=when you go to bed early) I'm really tired - I need an early night.
   ▪ a late night (=when you go to bed late) We had a late night last night.
   ▪ a long night (=a night when you do not sleep or you work hard) Everyone was tired and grumpy. It had been a long night.
   ▪ a sleepless night She had spent a sleepless night wondering what to do.
■ verbs
   ▪ spend a night somewhere (=sleep somewhere) We spent two nights at the Grand Hotel.
   ▪ stay the night (=sleep at someone's house) You're welcome to stay the night if you like.
   ▪ have a bad night (=not sleep well, especially when you are ill) I had a bad night last night.
   ▪ night falls written (=it starts to become dark) It grew colder as night fell.
   ▪ the night wears on (=continues) The pain gradually got better as the night wore on.
■ night + NOUN
   ▪ the night sky We looked up at the stars in the night sky.
   ▪ the night air The night air was scented with pine wood.
   ▪ a night train/bus/flight I took the night train to Fort William.
■ phrases
   ▪ all night He looked as if he'd been up all night.
   ▪ all night long (=used to emphasize that something continues for the whole night) The noise continued all night long!
   ▪ late at night We often get to bed very late at night.
   ▪ at this time of night (=used when something happens very late at night, and you are surprised) Why are you calling me at this time of night?
   ▪ late/far into the night (=until very late at night) Staff worked late into the night to make necessary repairs.
   ▪ in the middle of the night She woke up suddenly in the middle of the night.
   ▪ in/at the dead of night literary (=in the middle of the night when it is quiet) He drove through the countryside in the dead of night.
   ▪ day and night/night and day (=all the time) The phones rang day and night.
   ▪ morning, noon, and night (=all the time) She nagged at him morning, noon, and night.