notch

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a level on a scale, often marking quality or achievement: The quality of the food here has dropped a notch recently. * My spirits lifted a few notches when I heard the news. seealsoTOP-NOTCH 2 a V-shaped or circular cut in an edge or a surface, sometimes used to keep a record of sth: For each day he spent on the island, he cut a new notch in his stick. * She tightened her belt an extra notch. verb [VN] 1 (informal) ~ sth (up) to achieve sth such as a win or a high score: The team has notched up 20 goals already this season. 2 to make a small V-shaped cut in an edge or a surface