no·ble / ˈnōbəl/ • adj. (-bler, -blest) 1. belonging to a hereditary class with high social or political status; aristocratic: the Duchess of Kent and other noble ladies.2. having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals: the promotion of human rights was a noble aspiration. ∎  of imposing or magnificent size or appearance: entering the building with its noble arches and massive granite columns. ∎  of excellent or superior quality.• n. 1. (esp. in former times) a person of noble rank or birth.2. hist. a former English gold coin.DERIVATIVES: no·ble·ness n.no·bly / -blē/ adv.

noble2 the noble art (or science) of self-defence boxing.
noble gas any of the gaseous elements helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon, occupying Group 0 (18) of the periodic table. They were long believed to be totally unreactive but compounds of xenon, krypton, and radon are now known.
the noble savage a representative of primitive mankind as idealized in Romantic literature, symbolizing the innate goodness of humanity when free from the corrupting influence of civilization. The phrase itself comes from Dryden's Conquest of Granada (1672).

See also four noble truths.

noble illustrious by position, character, or birth; distinguished by splendour or magnificence XIII; of great or lofty character XVI. — (O)F. — L. nōbilis, for earlier gnōbilis, f. IE. *ġnō- KNOW; see -BLE.
So nobility XIV. — (O)F. or L. noblesse XIII. — (O)F.; see -ESS2.

noble1 a former English gold coin first issued in 1351.

See also rose noble.