njuː n(j)u ɹəˈfɹɛʃɪŋ pleasantly new or different common sense of a most refreshing sort original and of a kind not seen before the computer produced a completely novel proof of a well-known theorem a printed and bound book that is an extended work of fiction his bookcases were filled with nothing but novels he burned all the novels an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story