Possessing or characterized by hereditary social or political preëminence, or belonging to the class which possesses such preëminence or dignity; distinguished by birth, rank, or title; of ancient and honorable lineage; illustrious: as, a noble personage; noble birth.High in excellence or worth.Great or lofty in character, or in the nature of one's achievements; magnanimous; above everything that is mean or dishonorable: applied to persons or the mind.Proceeding from or characteristic or indicative of greatness of mind: as, noble courage; noble sentiments; noble thoughts.Of the best kind; choice; excellent.In mineralogy, excellent; pure in the highest decree: as, noble opal; noble hornblende; noble tourmalin.Precious; valuable: applied to those metals which are not altered on exposure to the air, or which do not easily rust, and which are much scarcer and more valuable than the so-called useful metals. Though the epithet is applied chiefly to gold and silver, and sometimes to quicksilver, it might also with propriety be made use of in reference to platinum and the group of metals associated with it, since these are scarce and valuable, and are little acted on by ordinary reagents.In falconry, noting long-winged falcons which swoop down upon the quarry.Of magnificent proportions or appearance; magnificent; stately; splendid: as, a noble edifice.n. A person of acknowledged social or political preëminence; a person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; specifically, in Great Britain and Ireland, a peer; a duke, marquis, earl, viscount, or baron. See nobility and peerage.n. An old English gold coin, current for 6s. 8d., first minted by Edward III., and afterward by Richard II., Henry IV., V., and VI., and also by Edward IV., under whom one variety of the noble was called the ryal or rose noble (see ryal).n. The pogge, Agonus cataphractus.n. plural In entomology, the Papilionidæ.To ennoble.
