noun
nugget
NUH-guht
Nugget (noun) means a small rounded lump, especially of gold or other precious metal found in its natural state. Example: “The prospector pulled a gold nugget the size of a thumbnail out of the creek bed.”
noun
1
A small rounded lump, especially of gold or other precious metal found in its natural state.
"The prospector pulled a gold nugget the size of a thumbnail out of the creek bed."
"She kept the nugget of raw silver on her desk as a paperweight."
2
A small, valuable piece of information or wisdom.
"The old coach dropped a nugget of advice that stuck with him for years."
"Buried in the report was one useful nugget of data."
3
A small piece of breaded and fried food, especially chicken.
"The kids ordered a box of chicken nuggets with fries."
How to use nugget
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small chunky lump of something valuable — precious metal, useful information, or breaded food.
Common pairings
gold nugget
chicken nugget
nugget of wisdom
nugget of truth
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Word forms
- Plural
- nuggets
- Third person singular
- nuggets
- Past tense
- nuggeted, nuggetted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The prospector pulled a gold _____ the size of a thumbnail out of the creek bed.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, first recorded for lumps of ore in 19th-century Australia and possibly linked to an English dialect word "nug", meaning a lump or block.
Class of 1800
nugget joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Frequently asked questions
What does “nugget” mean?
The word “nugget” means a small rounded lump, especially of gold or other precious metal found in its natural state. In plain terms, a small chunky lump of something valuable — precious metal, useful information, or breaded food.
How do you pronounce “nugget”?
“Nugget” is pronounced NUH-guht (/ˈnʌɡət/ in IPA).
How do you use “nugget” in a sentence?
Here is “nugget” used in a sentence: “The prospector pulled a gold nugget the size of a thumbnail out of the creek bed.”
What part of speech is “nugget”?
“Nugget” is a noun.
Where does the word “nugget” come from?
The word “nugget” dates back to around 1800. Origin uncertain, first recorded for lumps of ore in 19th-century Australia and possibly linked to an English dialect word "nug", meaning a lump or block.
How many meanings does “nugget” have?
“Nugget” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small rounded lump, especially of gold or other precious metal found in its natural state.
