1. philosophy reason and knowledge as opposed to sense perception.
2. philosophy the rational part of the individual human soul.
3. philosophy the principle of the cosmic mind or soul responsible for the rational order of the cosmos.
4. philosophy in stoicism, the equivalent of logos.
5. philosophy in neo-platonism, the image of the absolute good, containing the cosmos of intelligible beings.
6. chiefly british good sense; shrewdness: "Hillela had the nous to take up with the general when he was on the up-and-up again” ( Nadine Gordimer).

1. the mind or intellect, reason, both rational and emotional
2. in neoplatonism, the divine reason, regarded as first divine emanation.
3. common sense; practical intelligence.

1. intellect; understanding; talent; -- used humorously.
2. the reason; the highest intellect; god regarded as the world reason.

1. in platonism and the neoplatonic philosophy, reason, the highest kind of thought; especially, that reason which made the world (though other elements contributed to it). the later Neoplatonists made the nous a kind of living being.
2. hence wit; cleverness; smartness.

1. common sense
2. that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason