noun
Common
nickel
NIHK-uhl
Nickel (noun) means a hard, silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), often used in alloys and plating. Example: “The coin is made from a copper-nickel alloy.”
noun
1
A hard, silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), often used in alloys and plating.
"The coin is made from a copper-nickel alloy."
"Nickel is added to steel to help it resist rust."
"The kettle has a shiny nickel plating on the outside."
2
An American or Canadian coin worth five cents.
"He dug a nickel out of his pocket to pay the meter."
"She found a nickel under the sofa cushion."
"Tourists tossed a nickel into the fountain for luck."
How to use nickel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the metallic element, or the American five-cent coin named after it.
Common pairings
nickel and dime
nickel-plated
not worth a nickel
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Word forms
- Plural
- nickels
- Third person singular
- nickels
- Past tense
- nickeled, nickelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The coin is made from a copper-_____ alloy.
Etymology
Borrowed from German Nickel, shortened from Kupfernickel ("copper-nickel", literally "copper goblin"), because the ore looked like it contained copper but yielded none — miners blamed a mischievous spirit named after Nikolaus (Nicholas).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for nickel
See all rhymes for nickel →Frequently asked questions
What does “nickel” mean?
The word “nickel” means a hard, silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), often used in alloys and plating. In plain terms, either the metallic element, or the American five-cent coin named after it.
How do you pronounce “nickel”?
“Nickel” is pronounced NIHK-uhl (/ˈnɪk.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “nickel” in a sentence?
Here is “nickel” used in a sentence: “The coin is made from a copper-nickel alloy.”
What part of speech is “nickel”?
“Nickel” is a noun.
Where does the word “nickel” come from?
The word “nickel” comes from German.
Is “nickel” a common word?
“Nickel” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nickel” have?
“Nickel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard, silvery-white metallic element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), often used in alloys and plating.
What is the difference between nickel and steel?</question>
Nickel is a hard, silvery-white metallic element used in alloys and plating, while steel is itself an alloy primarily made of iron and carbon, sometimes combined with nickel to improve strength and corrosion resistance. Nickel is a raw element, whereas steel is a manufactured combination of metals.
How much is a nickel worth?
A nickel is an American or Canadian coin worth five cents. It is distinct from the metallic element nickel, though the coin was historically made partly from that metal.
What is the difference between nickel the metal and nickel the coin?
Nickel the metal is a hard, silvery-white metallic element used in alloys and plating, while nickel the coin is an American or Canadian coin worth five cents. The coin takes its name from the metal historically used in its composition.
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