101
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˌwʌnəʊˈwʌn/
ipa: /ˌwʌnˌoʊˈwʌn/
rhymes: -ʌn
Etymology: From 1 + 0 + 1, from the method of numbering courses in United States colleges, the initial or introductory course commonly being numbered “101”; for example, “Biology 101”.
Senses: examples: text: Geology 101 tells us that you can’t build a reservoir on sandstone.
text: My dog flunked out of Crate Training 101.
text: I went to NYU myself, I was a philo-major there, too. I took all the abstract philosophy courses in college, like truth and beauty, advanced truth and beauty, intermediate truth, introduction to God, Death 101.
ref: 1964 March (date recorded), “Private Life”, in Woody Allen (CP 518), spoken by Woody Allen, New York, N.Y.: Colpix Records, published July 1964, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Jan 2025:
text: Since this is a series that emphasizes Social Relevance 101—a basic course on TV these days—the hood in that episode is just a good ghetto boy who has been led astray, and the cop is good old Paddy on the beat.
ref: 1972 November 6, Gerald Clarke, “Show Business: Viewpoints: The Rookies. ABC. Monday, 8–9 p.m. E.S.T.”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 Jan 2011:
text: Companies sell directories, databases, reports, translation services, automatic translation software—and guidebooks for doing business away from home, which, in some cases, look much like simplified textbooks for Anthropology 101.
ref: 2003, Daniel Dor, “When Relativism Becomes a Marketing Strategy: Globalization, Knowledge and the World Language System”, in Andrea Krizsán, Violetta Zentai, editors, Reshaping Globalization: Multilateral Dialogues and New Policy Initiatives (CPS Books), Budapest, Hungary; New York, N.Y.: Central European University Press, →ISBN, →ISSN, part I (Production of Global Knowledge), page 66:
text: Ugh! Crash and burn! Next year, I’m taking flirting 101! I am so not good at this!
ref: 2003 June 22, Holly Henderson, Liz Tigelaar, “Ski Trip”, in Totally Spies!, season 2, episode 21, spoken by Samantha (“Sam”) (Jennifer Hale), Montreal, Que.: Marathon Media, via Teletoon, →OCLC:
text: A Class in Nation-Building 101 [title] As the President tries to develop a new strategy in Afghanistan, I wonder if this is the real lesson that we've learned in Afghanistan so far: that nation-building, like charity, probably begins at home.
ref: 2009 November 1, Bob Schieffer, “Face the Nation: A Class in Nation-building 101”, in CBS News, archived from the original on 24 Jan 2025:
text: I'm taking a fascinating class all about the Hollywood Freeway. It's called 101: 101.
ref: 2017 September 12, Norm Macdonald Live, season 3, episode 11, spoken by Norm Macdonald:
text: However much you work out, but especially if it's a lot, learning correct form and focusing on keeping your body safe is 101—not just while exercising, but also how you move around day to day.
ref: 2023 March 20, Rebecca Gillam, Bridie Wilkins, “Alexandra Daddario and Her PT on How She Built Her Baywatch Bod + Her 10 Regular Workout Rules”, in Liz Plosser, editor, Women’s Health, New York, N.Y.: Hearst Magazine Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 21 Jun 2023:
qualifier: alone or postpositive
glosses: Of a fact, subject, etc.: basic, beginner-level, elementary.