EnglishMain Dictionary
unknown
Universal Words
adjective, noun
adjective
1 ~ (to sb) not known or identified:
a species of insect previously unknown to science * He was trying, for some unknown reason, to count the stars. * The man's identity remains unknown.
2 (of people) not famous or well known:
an unknown actor / artist / writer * The author is virtually unknown outside Poland.
3 never happening or existing:
The disease is as yet unknown in Europe (= there have been no cases there). * It was not unknown for people to have to wait several hours (= it happened sometimes).
IDIOMS
an unknown quantity a person or thing whose qualities or abilities are not yet known
unknown to sb without the person mentioned being aware of it:
Unknown to me, he had already signed the agreement.
noun
1 (the unknown) [sing.] places or things that are not known about:
a journey into the unknown * a fear of the unknown
2 [C] a person who is not well known:
A young unknown played the leading role.
3 [C] a fact or an influence that is not known:
There are so many unknowns in the proposal.
4 [C] (mathematics) a quantity that does not have a known value:
X and Y in the equation are both unknowns.
