A notch is a small V-shaped cut or indentation in an edge or surface. When you carve a notch into a stick, you create a little groove that marks or holds something. Early explorers would cut notches into trees to mark their trails through forests. Carpenters cut notches into wooden beams so they fit together snugly, like puzzle pieces locking into place.

The word also describes levels or degrees of something. When you turn up the volume “a notch,” you increase it one step. A teacher might say a student's work improved “several notches,” meaning it got noticeably better through multiple levels of improvement. If something is “top-notch,” it's excellent or first-rate.

You'll also hear people talk about having another accomplishment “under their belt” by saying they've added another notch to their record. This comes from the old practice of carving notches to keep count of achievements. The phrase take someone down a notch means to humble them or reduce their excessive pride, as if lowering them one level.

The notch on an arrow is a small groove cut into the end that fits onto the bowstring, holding the arrow in place before you shoot.