English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

nice

adj

Pleasant, agreeable, or satisfactory.

nicely

adv

In a pleasant or satisfactory way.

niceness

noun

The quality of being pleasant, kind, or agreeable.

nicety

noun

A small, precise detail or difference.

nicey

name

A female given name, short for Eunice.

niche

noun

A small recess set into a wall, often used to display a statue or ornament.

niche market

noun

A small, clearly defined group of customers with particular needs or tastes that mainstream products do not fully serve.

Nichol

name

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from the given name Nicholas.

nichola

name

A female first name of Ancient Greek, variant of Nicola origin.

Nicholas

name

A male given name of Ancient Greek origin, borne by Saint Nicholas of Myra, the inspiration for Father Christmas.

nicholds

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

nichole

name

A female first name of Ancient Greek, a less common spelling of Nicole origin.

Nicholls

name

A surname derived from the given name Nicholas.

Nichols

name

A surname derived from the given name Nicholas.

Nicholson

name

A surname meaning "son of Nicholas".

nick

noun

A small cut or notch in a surface, or the exact critical point or moment something happens.

nickalls

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

nicked

adj

Having small cuts or notches.

nickel

noun

A hard, silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), often used in alloys and plating.

nickells

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

Nickelodeon

noun

An early 20th-century movie theatre that charged five cents for admission.

Nickels

name

A surname, a variant spelling of Nichols, ultimately from the given name Nicholas.

nicker

noun

A quiet neighing noise made by a horse.

Nicki

name

A diminutive of the female given names Nicola or Nicole, or the male name Nicholas.

Nickie

name

A given name, used for both men and women, a variant of Nicky.

nicking

noun

A small cut or notch, or the act of making one.

nickname

noun

An informal, often affectionate or descriptive name used instead of someone's real name.

nicknamed

adj

Given an informal or descriptive alternative name.

nickolds

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

nickolls

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

nickols

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

Nicks

name

A surname derived from a diminutive of Nicholas.

nickson

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

Nicky

name

A diminutive of Nicola, Nicole, or Nicholas, used for both men and women.

Nico

name

A given name used as a nickname for Nicholas (male) or Nicola (female).

Nicodemus

name

A Pharisee in the New Testament who secretly followed Jesus and questioned him at night.

Nicola

name

A female given name, the feminine form of Nicholas.

Nicolas

name

A male given name, a variant of Nicholas.

Nicole

name

A female given name, the feminine form of Nicolas.

Nicolette

name

A French female given name.

nicolls

name

A family name that began as a patronymic.

nicotiana

noun

A garden plant of the tobacco family, grown for decoration.

nicotinamide

noun

A chemical compound made from nicotinic acid, also known as niacin.

nicotine

noun

An addictive chemical found naturally in the tobacco plant.

nictation

noun

The act of blinking or winking.

niddering

noun

(old-fashioned) A coward or a worthless, contemptible person.

nidge

verb

To dress or shape the surface of a stone using a sharp-pointed hammer.

nidus

noun

A cluster of nerve cells grouped together in the brain or body.

Nie

name

A Chinese surname.

niece

noun

The daughter of one's brother, sister, or their spouse.

nief

noun

A serf or bondsman who was born into that unfree status.

Nielsen

name

A Danish or Norwegian surname meaning "son of Niels".

Nietzsche

name

A German surname, most famously belonging to the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900).

Nietzschean

adj

Relating to the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche or his ideas.

nieve

noun

Snow; the ordinary Spanish word, met in English chiefly in place names, menus and Spanish phrases.

Nieves

name

A Spanish surname.

niff

noun

An unpleasant smell.

niflheim

name

In Germanic and Norse cosmology, the Norse underworld, location of the domain Hel and of the realm of Hel, the goddess of the dead.

nifty

adjective

Impressively clever, useful, or stylish.

Nige

name

An informal short form of the given name Nigel.

Nigel

name

A male given name of British usage, derived through Latin from a word meaning "black."

Niger

noun

An African oil-seed plant, also called niger seed, grown for its edible oil and as a common ingredient in birdseed mixes.

Nigeria

noun

A country in West Africa, the most populous nation on the continent, with Abuja as its capital and Lagos as its largest city.

Nigerian

noun

A person who is from Nigeria or has Nigerian ancestry.

nigerien

noun

Someone from Niger, or with Nigerien roots.

nigga

noun

An informal variant spelling and pronunciation of the slur "nigger," now also used by some Black speakers (especially in African American Vernacular English and hip-hop culture) as a casual, sometimes affectionate, term of address among themselves.

niggard

adj

Careful to the point of meanness with money or resources.

niggardliness

noun

The quality of being mean or ungenerous, especially with money.

niggardly

adj

Mean and unwilling to give or spend generously.

nigger

noun

An extremely offensive racial slur used to refer to a Black person. Considered one of the most inflammatory words in English and avoided in almost all contexts outside quotation, historical discussion, or reclaimed use within some Black communities.

nigget

noun

A tiny insect, especially one believed to serve as a witch's familiar.

niggle

noun

A small complaint or issue.

niggly

adj

Irritable and easily annoyed by small things.

nigh

adverb

Close in time or space; almost — an old-fashioned or literary word for "near."

night

noun

The period of darkness between sunset and sunrise, when the sun is below the horizon.

nightbird

noun

A bird that belongs to the group known as Strisores.

nightcap

noun

An alcoholic drink taken shortly before going to bed.

nightclub

noun

A venue open late at night offering music, dancing, and drinks.

nightcrawler

noun

The earthworm species Lumbricus terrestris, noted for its great size and for surfacing at night.

nightdress

noun

A loose garment, usually worn by women or girls, for sleeping in.

nightfall

noun

The time when day turns to night; dusk.

nightgown

noun

A loose, long garment worn for sleeping, typically by women.

nighthawk

noun

A North American nightjar bird, active at dusk and known for its distinctive booming courtship dive.

nightie

noun

An informal word for a nightdress or nightgown.

nightingale

noun

A small brownish songbird, native to Europe and parts of Africa and Asia, famous for its rich, often nighttime song.

nightish

adj

Like night, or happening at night.

nightjar

noun

A nocturnal bird from the family Caprimulgidae that feeds mainly on moths and other large flying insects.

nightlife

noun

The entertainment and social activity available in a city or area after dark, such as bars, clubs, and late-night venues.

nightly

adjective

Happening every night, or relating to the night.

nightmare

noun

A frightening or unpleasant dream.

nightmarish

adjective

Extremely unpleasant, frightening, or stressful, like a nightmare.

nights

adverb

During the night, especially on a regular or recurring basis.

nightshade

noun

Any of a group of plants in the genus Solanum, some of which are poisonous, including black nightshade and the highly toxic deadly nightshade.

nightshirt

noun

A long, loose shirt worn to bed, especially by men.

nightspot

noun

A place, such as a nightclub, that stays open and offers entertainment late at night.

nightstand

noun

A small table or cabinet placed beside a bed, used to hold a lamp, alarm clock, or other items.

nightstick

noun

A long, sturdy club carried by police officers for self-defense and crowd control.

nighttime

noun

The hours of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

nightwalker

noun

A prostitute who solicits customers in the street.

nightwork

noun

Any job or task done during the night.

nighty

phrase

An informal shortening of "nighty night," used as a casual way of saying good night.

nigiri

noun

A type of sushi made from a small block of rice topped with raw fish or another topping.

nigori

noun

A type of saké that looks cloudy rather than clear.

nigrify

verb

To turn something black; to blacken it.

Nihal

name

A given name of Arabic and Turkish origin, meaning "fulfillment of a wish."

nihilism

noun

The belief that no undertaking has any objective meaning.

nihilist

noun

Someone who believes in or supports nihilism.

nihility

noun

The condition of not existing at all; complete emptiness.

Nik

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Nikolai, Nicholas, or related names.

Nike

noun

In Greek mythology, the goddess who personified victory.

Nikhil

name

A masculine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "whole" or "entire."

Niki

name

A feminine given name, a short form of Nicole or Nikita.

Nikita

name

A given name of Greek origin meaning "victory," used as a masculine name in Russia and as a feminine name in the West.

Nikki

name

A feminine given name, a diminutive form of Nicole.

Nikko

noun

A felt-tip marker pen, originally from the Nikko brand, used informally (especially in Australia) as a generic term for any similar pen.

nikky

name

A female given name, an alternative spelling of Nicky.

Niko

name

A masculine given name, a short form of Nikolaos or Nicholas used across several European languages.

Nikola

name

A masculine given name, a Slavic form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

Nikolai

name

A masculine given name, the Russian form of Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

nikolas

name

A transliteration of the Greek male given name Νικόλας (Nikólas), used in Greece.

nikoleta

name

The transliteration of Νικολέτα (Nikoléta), a Greek female given name.

Nikos

name

A masculine given name, the Greek short form of Nikolaos.

nil

noun

Nothing at all; zero.

Nile

name

A major river in northeastern Africa, the longest river in the world, flowing through Egypt and Sudan.

Niles

name

A masculine given name and surname related to Nile, and also the name of a city in Illinois, United States.

nim

verb

To take or steal something quickly and quietly.

nimble

adj

Able to move quickly, lightly, and with easy control.

nimbleness

noun

The state of being nimble.

nimbus

noun

A glowing ring or halo of light around a head, especially in religious art.

nimiety

noun

Having too much of something; an excess.

nimply

noun

(computing) An electronic circuit that carries out the logical operation of material nonimplication.

nimrod

noun

(American, informal) A foolish or clueless person.

nin

noun

An affectionate, informal term for a grandmother, used mainly in parts of Britain and Ireland.

nina

noun

A small hidden picture or message tucked into a finished piece of artwork, especially a caricature.

nincompoop

noun

A silly, foolish person.

nine

num

The number 9, one more than eight and one less than ten.

ninepin

noun

One of the wooden pins knocked down in the game of ninepins.

niner

noun

The digit 9, spoken this way in radio and aviation communication to avoid confusion with other numbers.

nines

noun

A pair of playing cards or dice both showing the value nine.

nineteen

num

The number 19, one more than eighteen and one less than twenty.

nineteenth

adj

Coming after eighteen others in a sequence; 19th.

nineties

noun

The decade running from a year ending in 90 to one ending in 99, especially the 1990s.

ninetieth

adjective

Coming after eighty-nine others in a series; the ordinal form of ninety.

ninety

num

The number 90, one more than eighty-nine and one less than ninety-one.

nineveh

name

The name of the capital of ancient Assyria, today called Mosul, Iraq.

Ning

name

A family name.

ninja

noun

Historically, a covert agent in feudal Japan trained in stealth, espionage, and combat.

ninny

noun

A foolish or silly person.

ninnyhammer

noun

A silly or foolish person.

Nintendo

name

A major Japanese company famous for video games and game consoles, including Mario and the Switch.