nu ['nü, 'nyü] -n

  1. the 13th letter of the Greek alphabet

NU -abbr

  1. name unknown
  2. Nunavut

nu·ance ['nü-,än(t)s, 'nyü-, -,äⁿs; nü-', nyü-'] -n, adj

  1. a subtle distinction or variation
  2. a subtle quality : nicety
  3. sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value)

nub ['nəb] -n

  1. knob, lump
  2. nubbin
  3. gist, point
    • the nub of the problem

nub·bin ['nə-bən] -n

  1. something (as an ear of Indian corn) that is small for its kind, stunted, undeveloped, or imperfect
  2. a small usu. projecting part or bit
  3. nub

nub·ble ['nə-bəl] -n, adj

  1. a small knob or lump

nub·by ['nə-bē] -adj

  1. having or being like nubbles
  2. having nubs
    • a nubby knit fabric

Nu·bi·an ['nü-bē-ən, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Nubia
  2. a member of one of the group of dark-skinned peoples that formed a powerful empire between Egypt and Ethiopia from the 6th to the 14th centuries
  3. any of several languages spoken in central and northern Sudan

nu·bile ['nü-,bī(-ə)l, 'nyü-, -bəl] -adj, n

  1. of marriageable condition or age
  2. sexually attractive used of a young woman

nu·buck ['n(y)ü-,bək] -n

  1. a soft sueded leather

nu·cel·lus [nü-'se-ləs, nyü-] -n, adj

  1. the central and chief part of a plant ovule that encloses the female gametophyte

nu·chal ['nü-kəl, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or lying in the region of the nape

nucle- -comb form

  1. nucleus
    • nucleo plasm
  2. nucleic acid
    • nucleo protein

nu·cle·ar ['nü-klē-ər, 'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a nucleus
  2. of or relating to the atomic nucleus
    • nuclear reaction
    • nuclear physics
  3. used in or produced by a nuclear reaction (as fission)
    • nuclear fuel
    • nuclear waste
    • nuclear energy
  4. being a weapon whose destructive power derives from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction
  5. of, produced by, or involving nuclear weapons
    • the nuclear age
    • nuclear war
  6. armed with nuclear weapons
    • nuclear powers
  7. of, relating to, or powered by nuclear energy
    • a nuclear submarine
    • the nuclear debate
    • a nuclear plant
  8. crazy, berserk usu. used in the phrase go nuclear

nuclear family -n

  1. a family group that consists only of father, mother, and children

nuclear magnetic resonance -n

  1. the magnetic resonance of an atomic nucleus
  2. chemical analysis that uses such resonance esp. to study molecular structure

nuclear medicine -n

  1. a branch of medicine dealing with the use of radioactive materials in the diagnosis and treatment of disease

nuclear membrane -n

  1. a double membrane enclosing a cell nucleus and having its outer part continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum called also nuclear envelope

nuclear sap -n

  1. the clear homogeneous ground substance of a cell nucleus

nuclear winter -n

  1. the chilling of climate that is hypothesized to be a consequence of nuclear war and to result from the prolonged blockage of sunlight by high-altitude dust clouds produced by nuclear explosions

nu·cle·ase ['nü-klē-,ās, 'nyü-, -,āz] -n

  1. any of various enzymes that promote hydrolysis of nucleic acids

nu·cle·ate ['nü-klē-,āt, 'nyü-] -vb, n

  1. to form into a nucleus : cluster
  2. to act as a nucleus for
  3. to supply nuclei to
  4. to form a nucleus
  5. to act as a nucleus
  6. to begin to form

nu·cle·at·ed ['nü-klē-,ā-təd, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. having a nucleus or nuclei
    • nucleated cells
  2. originating or occurring at nuclei
    • nucleate boiling

nu·cle·ic acid [nu̇-'klē-ik-, -'klā-, nyu̇-] -n

  1. any of various complex organic acids (as DNA or RNA) that are composed of nucleotide chains

nu·cle·in ['nü-klē-ən, 'nyü-] -n

  1. nucleoprotein
  2. nucleic acid

nu·cle·o·cap·sid [,nü-klē-ō-'kap-səd, ,nyü-] -n

  1. the nucleic acid and surrounding protein coat in a virus

nu·cle·oid ['nü-klē-,ȯid, 'nyü-] -n

  1. the DNA-containing area of a prokaryotic cell (as a bacterium)

nu·cle·o·lus [nü-'klē-ə-ləs, nyü-] -n, adj

  1. a spherical body of the nucleus of most eukaryotes that becomes enlarged during protein synthesis, is associated with a nucleolus organizer, and contains the DNA templates for ribosomal RNA

nucleolus organizer -n

  1. the specific part of a chromosome with which a nucleolus is associated esp. during its reorganization after nuclear division called also nucleolar organizer

nu·cle·on ['nü-klē-,än, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. a proton or neutron esp. in the atomic nucleus
  2. a hypothetical single entity with one-half unit of isospin that can manifest itself as either a proton or a neutron

nu·cle·on·ics [,nü-klē-'ä-niks, ,nyü-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a branch of physical science that deals with nucleons or with all phenomena of the atomic nucleus

nu·cle·o·phile ['nü-klē-ə-,fī(-ə)l, 'nyü-] -n

  1. a nucleophilic substance (as an electron-donating reagent)

nu·cle·o·phil·ic [,nü-klē-ə-'fi-lik, ,nyü-] -adj, adv, n

  1. having an affinity for atomic nuclei : being an electron donor
  2. involving a nucleophilic species
    • a nucleophilic reaction

nu·cle·o·plasm ['nü-klē-ə-,pla-zəm, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. the protoplasm of a nucleus

nu·cle·o·pro·tein [,nü-klē-ō-'prō-,tēn, ,nyü-, -'prō-tē-ən] -n

  1. a compound that consists of a protein (as a histone) conjugated with a nucleic acid (as a DNA) and that is the principal constituent of the hereditary material in chromosomes

nu·cle·o·side ['nü-klē-ə-,sīd, 'nyü-] -n

  1. a compound (as guanosine or adenosine) that consists of a purine or pyrimidine base combined with deoxyribose or ribose and is found esp. in DNA or RNA

nu·cle·o·some [-,sōm] -n, adj

  1. any of the repeating globular subunits of chromatin that consist of a complex of DNA and histone

nu·cle·o·syn·the·sis [,nü-klē-ō-'sin(t)-thə-səs, ,nyü-] -n, adj

  1. the production of a chemical element from simpler nuclei (as of hydrogen) esp. in a star

nu·cle·o·tid·ase [,nü-klē-ə-'tī-,dās, ,nyü-, -,dāz] -n

  1. a phosphatase that promotes hydrolysis of a nucleotide (as into a nucleoside and phosphoric acid)

nu·cle·o·tide ['nü-klē-ə-,tīd, 'nyü-] -n

  1. any of several compounds that consist of a ribose or deoxyribose sugar joined to a purine or pyrimidine base and to a phosphate group and that are the basic structural units of nucleic acids (as RNA and DNA)

nu·cle·us ['nü-klē-əs, 'nyü-] -n

  1. the small bright body in the head of a comet
  2. the small brighter and denser portion of a galaxy
  3. : a central point, group, or mass about which gathering, concentration, or accretion takes place: as
  4. a cellular organelle of eukaryotes that is essential to cell functions (as reproduction and protein synthesis), is composed of nucleoplasm and a nucleoprotein-rich network from which chromosomes and nucleoli arise, and is enclosed in a definite membrane
  5. a mass of gray matter or group of cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system
  6. a characteristic and stable complex of atoms or groups in a molecule
  7. ring
    • the naphthalene nucleus
  8. the positively charged central portion of an atom that comprises nearly all of the atomic mass and that consists of protons and usu. neutrons
  9. the peak of sonority in the utterance of a syllable
  10. a basic or essential part : core
    • players who are the nucleus of the team

nu·clide ['nü-,klīd, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. a species of atom characterized by the constitution of its nucleus and hence by the number of protons, the number of neutrons, and the energy content

nude ['nüd, 'nyüd] -adj, adv, n

  1. lacking something essential esp. to legal validity
    • a nude contract
  2. devoid of a natural or conventional covering
  3. not covered by clothing or a drape
  4. of the color of a white person's flesh
  5. giving the appearance of nudity
    • a nude dress
  6. featuring nudes
    • a nude movie
  7. frequented by naked people
    • a nude beach
  8. a representation of a nude human figure
  9. a nude person
  10. the condition of being nude
    • in the nude

nudge ['nəj] -vb, n

  1. to touch or push gently
  2. to seek the attention of by a push of the elbow
  3. to prod lightly : urge into action
  4. approach
    • its circulation is nudging the four million mark -- Bennett Cerf
  5. to give a nudge

nu·di·branch ['nü-də-,braŋk, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. any of an order (Nudibranchia) of marine opisthobranch mollusks without a shell in the adult state and without true gills

nud·ism ['nü-,di-zəm, 'nyü-] -n, adj or n

  1. the practice of going nude esp. in sexually mixed groups and during periods of time spent at specially secluded places

nud·nik ['nu̇d-nik] -n

  1. a person who is a bore or nuisance

Nu·er ['nü-ər] -n

  1. a member of a Nilotic people of southern Sudan
  2. the language of the Nuer people

nu·ga·to·ry ['nü-gə-,tȯr-ē, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. of little or no consequence : trifling, inconsequential
  2. having no force : inoperative

nug·get ['nə-gət] -n

  1. a solid lump
  2. a native lump of precious metal
  3. tidbit
    • nugget s of wisdom
  4. a small usu. rounded piece of food
    • chicken nugget s

nui·sance ['nü-sᵊn(t)s, 'nyü-] -n

  1. harm, injury
  2. one that is annoying, unpleasant, or obnoxious : pest

nuisance tax -n

  1. an excise tax collected in small amounts on a wide range of commodities directly from the consumer

nuke ['nük, 'nyük] -n

  1. a nuclear weapon
  2. a nuclear-powered electric generating station
  3. to attack or destroy with or as if with nuclear bombs
  4. microwave

null ['nəl] -adj

  1. having no legal or binding force : invalid
  2. amounting to nothing : nil
  3. having no value : insignificant
  4. having no elements
    • null set
  5. having zero as a limit
    • null sequence
  6. having all elements equal to zero
  7. indicating usu. by a zero reading on a scale when a given quantity (as current or voltage) is zero or when two quantities are equal used of an instrument
  8. being or relating to a method of measurement in which an unknown quantity (as of electric current) is compared with a known quantity of the same kind and found equal by a null detector
  9. of, being, or relating to zero
  10. zero
  11. zero
  12. a condition of a radio receiver when minimum or zero signal is received
  13. a minimum or zero value of an electric current or of a radio signal
  14. to make null

nul·lah ['nə-lə] -n

  1. gully, ravine

null and void -adj

  1. having no force, binding power, or validity

null hypothesis -n

  1. a statistical hypothesis to be tested and accepted or rejected in favor of an alternative
  2. the hypothesis that an observed difference (as between the means of two samples) is due to chance alone and not due to a systematic cause

nul·li·fi·ca·tion [,nə-lə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the act of nullifying : the state of being nullified
  2. the action of a state impeding or attempting to prevent the operation and enforcement within its territory of a law of the U.S.
  3. jury nullification

nul·li·fi·er ['nə-lə-,fī(-ə)r] -n

  1. one that nullifies
  2. one maintaining the right of nullification against the U.S. government

nul·li·fy ['nə-lə-,fī] -vt

  1. to make null
  2. to make legally null and void
  3. to make of no value or consequence

nul·lip·a·rous [,nə-'li-pə-rəs] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a female that has not borne offspring

nul·li·ty ['nə-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being null
  2. legal invalidity
  3. nothingness
  4. insignificance
  5. a mere nothing : nonentity
  6. one that is null
  7. an act void of legal effect
  8. the number of elements in a basis of a null-space

nullspace ['nəl-,spās] -n

  1. a subspace of a vector space consisting of vectors that under a given linear transformation are mapped onto zero

num -abbr

  1. numeral

Num -abbr

  1. Numbers

numb ['nəm] -adj, vt, adv, n

  1. devoid of sensation esp. as a result of cold or anesthesia
  2. devoid of emotion : indifferent

num·ber ['nəm-bər] -n

  1. a sum of units : total
  2. complement
  3. an indefinite usu. large total
    • a number of members were absent
    • the number of elderly is rising
  4. a numerous group : many
  5. a numerical preponderance
  6. the characteristic of an individual by which it is treated as a unit or of a collection by which it is treated in terms of units
  7. an ascertainable total
    • bugs beyond number
  8. a unit belonging to an abstract mathematical system and subject to specified laws of succession, addition, and multiplication
  9. natural number
  10. an element (as ) of any of many mathematical systems obtained by extension of or analogy with the natural number system
  11. arithmetic
  12. a distinction of word form to denote reference to one or more than one
  13. a form or group of forms so distinguished
  14. metrical structure : meter
  15. metrical lines : verses
  16. musical sounds : notes
  17. a word, symbol, letter, or combination of symbols representing a number
  18. a numeral or combination of numerals or other symbols used to identify or designate
    • dialed the wrong number
  19. a member of a sequence or collection designated by esp. consecutive numbers (as an issue of a periodical)
  20. a position in a numbered sequence
  21. a group of one kind
    • not of their number
  22. : one singled out from a group : individual: as
  23. girl, woman
    • met an attractive number at the dance
  24. a musical, theatrical, or literary selection or production
  25. routine, act
  26. stunt, trick
  27. an act of transforming or impairing
    • tripped and did a number on her knee
  28. an item of merchandise and esp. clothing
  29. insight into a person's ability or character
    • had my number
  30. a form of lottery in which an individual wagers on the appearance of a certain combination of digits (as in regularly published numbers) called also numbers game
  31. policy
  32. figures representing amounts of money usu. in dollars spent, earned, or involved
  33. statistics
  34. individual statistics (as of an athlete)
  35. rating
  36. a person represented by a number or considered without regard to individuality
    • at the university I was just a number
  37. lifetime used with up
    • the old feeling that comes to men in combat...that your number was up -- Geoffrey Norman

number [-b(ə-)riŋ] -vb, adj, n

  1. count, enumerate
  2. to claim as part of a total : include
  3. to restrict to a definite number
    • your days are number ed
  4. to assign a number to
    • number the pages
  5. to amount to in number : total
    • the crew number s 100
  6. to reach a total number
  7. to call off numbers in sequence

number cruncher -n

  1. a computer that performs fast numerical calculations esp. on large amounts of data
  2. a person concerned with numerical data (as statistics)

num·ber·less ['nəm-bər-ləs] -adj

  1. innumerable, countless

number line -n

  1. a line of infinite extent whose points correspond to the real numbers according to their distance in a positive or negative direction from a point arbitrarily taken as zero

number one -n

  1. one's own interests or welfare : oneself
    • looking out for number one
    often written No. 1
  2. one that is first in rank, importance, or influence often written No. 1
  3. first in rank, importance, or influence : foremost
    • cancer is the country's number one killer
    often written No. 1
  4. of highest or of high quality

number plate -n

  1. license plate

Num·bers ['nəm-bərz] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. the mainly narrative fourth book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture

number theory -n, adj

  1. the study of the properties of integers

numb·ing ['nə-miŋ] -adj, adv

  1. tending or serving to make numb or spiritless
    • losing by a numbing margin
    • a numbing lecture

numbskull ['nəm-,skəl] -n

(variant of numskull)

  1. a thick or muddled head
  2. a dull or stupid person : dunce

nu·men ['nü-mən, 'nyü-] -n

  1. a spiritual force or influence often identified with a natural object, phenomenon, or place

nu·mer·a·ble ['nüm-rə-bəl, 'nü-mə-; 'nyüm-, 'nyü-mə-] -adj

  1. capable of being counted

nu·mer·acy ['n(y)üm-rə-sē, 'n(y)ü-mə-] -n, adj

  1. the capacity for quantitative thought and expression

nu·mer·al ['nüm-rəl, 'nü-mə-; 'nyüm-, 'nyü-mə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or expressing numbers
  2. consisting of numbers or numerals

numeral -n

  1. a conventional symbol that represents a number
  2. numbers that designate by year a school or college class and that are awarded for distinction in an extracurricular activity

nu·mer·ate ['nü-mə-,rāt, 'nyü-] -vt

  1. enumerate

nu·mer·a·tion [,nü-mə-'rā-shən, ,nyü-] -n

  1. the act or process or an instance of counting or numbering
  2. a system of counting or numbering
  3. an act or instance of designating by a number
  4. the art of reading in words numbers expressed by numerals

nu·mer·a·tor ['nü-mə-,rā-tər, 'nyü-] -n

  1. the part of a fraction that is above the line and signifies the number to be divided by the denominator
  2. one that numbers

nu·mer·ic [nu̇-'mer-ik, nyu̇-] -adj

  1. numerical
  2. denoting a number or a system of numbers
    • a numeric code
    • a numeric sign
  3. number, numeral

nu·mer·i·cal [nu̇-'mer-i-kəl, nyu̇-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to numbers
    • the numerical superiority of the enemy
  2. expressed in or involving numbers or a number system
    • numerical standing in a class
    • a numerical code

numerical analysis -n

  1. the study of quantitative approximations to the solutions of mathematical problems including consideration of and bounds to the errors involved

numerical taxonomy -n, adj

  1. taxonomy in which many quantitatively measured characters are given equal weight in the determination of taxa and the construction of diagrams indicating systematic relationships

nu·mer·ol·o·gy [,nü-mə-'rä-lə-jē, ,nyü-] -n, adj

  1. the study of the occult significance of numbers

nu·me·ro uno ['nü-mə-rō-'ü-(,)nō, 'nyü-] -n, adj

  1. number one

nu·mer·ous ['nüm-rəs, 'nü-mə-; 'nyüm-, 'nyü-mə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. consisting of great numbers of units or individuals
    • born into a numerous family
  2. many
    • received numerous complaints

nu·mi·nous ['nü-mə-nəs, 'nyü-] -adj, n

  1. supernatural, mysterious
  2. filled with a sense of the presence of divinity : holy
  3. appealing to the higher emotions or to the aesthetic sense : spiritual

nu·mis·mat·ic [,nü-məz-'ma-tik, -məs-, ,nyü-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to numismatics
  2. of or relating to currency : monetary

nu·mis·mat·ics [-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, n

  1. the study or collection of coins, tokens, and paper money and sometimes related objects (as medals)

num·mu·lar ['nəm-yə-lər] -adj

  1. characterized by circular or oval lesions or drops
    • nummular dermatitis

num·mu·lit·ic limestone [,nəm-yə-'li-tik-] -n

  1. the most widely distributed and distinctive formation of the Eocene in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa

num·skull ['nəm-,skəl] -n

  1. a thick or muddled head
  2. a dull or stupid person : dunce

nun ['nən] -n, adj

  1. a woman belonging to a religious order
  2. one under solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
  3. the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet

nun·a·tak ['nə-nə-,tak] -n

  1. a hill or mountain completely surrounded by glacial ice

Nunc Di·mit·tis [,nəŋk-də-'mi-təs, ,nu̇ŋk-] -n

  1. the prayer of Simeon in Luke 2:2932 used as a canticle

nun·cha·ku ['nən-,chək, ,nən-'chä-kü] -n

  1. a weapon that consists of two hardwood sticks joined at their ends by a short length of rawhide, cord, or chain

nun·ci·a·ture ['nən(t)-sē-ə-,chu̇r, 'nu̇n(t)-, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n

  1. a papal diplomatic mission headed by a nuncio
  2. the office or period of office of a nuncio

nun·cio ['nən(t)-sē-,ō, 'nu̇n(t)-] -n

  1. a papal legate of the highest rank permanently accredited to a civil government

nun·cle ['nəŋ-kəl] -n

  1. uncle

nun·cu·pa·tive ['nən-kyu̇-,pā-tiv, 'nəŋ-; ,nən-'kyü-pə-] -adj

  1. not written : oral
    • a nuncupative will

nun·nery ['nən-rē, 'nə-nə-] -n

  1. a convent of nuns

nuoc mam [nü-'äk-'mäm] -n

  1. a sauce made of fish (as anchovies) fermented in brine

Nu·pe ['nü-(,)pā] -n

  1. a member of a people of west central Nigeria
  2. the language of the Nupe people

nup·tial ['nəp-shəl, -chəl, ÷-shə-wəl, ÷-chə-wəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to marriage or the marriage ceremony
  2. characteristic of or occurring in the breeding season
    • nuptial flight

nuptial -n

  1. marriage, wedding usu. used in pl.

nup·tial·i·ty [,nəp-shē-'a-lə-tē, -chē-] -n

  1. the marriage rate

Nur·i·stani [,nu̇r-ə-'stä-nē, ,nyu̇r-] -n

  1. a member of a group of peoples of the Hindu Kush in northeastern Afghanistan
  2. the family of languages spoken by the Nuristanis that constitutes a distinct branch of Indo-Iranian

nurse ['nərs] -n

  1. a woman who suckles an infant not her own : wet nurse
  2. a woman who takes care of a young child : dry nurse
  3. one that looks after, fosters, or advises
  4. a person who cares for the sick or infirm
  5. a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health
  6. a worker form of a social insect (as an ant or a bee) that cares for the young
  7. a female mammal used to suckle the young of another
  8. to nourish at the breast : suckle
  9. to take nourishment from the breast of
  10. rear, educate
  11. to promote the development or progress of
  12. to manage with care or economy
    • nursed the business through hard times
    • nursed a 10 lead
  13. to take charge of and watch over
  14. to care for and wait on (as a sick person)
  15. to attempt to cure by care and treatment
  16. to hold in one's memory or consideration
    • nurse a grievance
  17. to use, handle, or operate carefully so as to conserve energy or avoid injury or pain
    • nurse a sprained ankle
  18. to use sparingly
  19. to consume slowly or over a long period
    • nurse a cup of coffee
  20. to feed an offspring from the breast
  21. to feed at the breast : suck
  22. to act or serve as a nurse

nurse·maid ['nərs-,mād] -n

  1. a girl or woman who is regularly employed to look after children

nursemid·wife [-'mid-,wīf] -n

  1. a registered nurse with additional training as a midwife who delivers infants and provides prenatal and postpartum care, newborn care, and some routine care (as gynecological exams) of women

nurseprac·ti·tion·er [-prak-'ti-sh(ə-)nər] -n

  1. a registered nurse who is qualified through advanced training to assume some of the duties and responsibilities formerly assumed only by a physician

nurs·ery ['nərs-rē, 'nər-sə-] -n

  1. attentive care : fosterage
  2. a child's bedroom
  3. a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence
  4. day nursery
  5. something that fosters, develops, or promotes
  6. a place in which persons are trained or educated
  7. an area where plants are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks for budding and grafting, or for sale
  8. a place where young animals grow or are cared for

nurs·ery·man [-mən] -n

  1. one whose occupation is the cultivation of plants (as trees and shrubs) esp. for sale

nursery rhyme -n

  1. a short rhyme for children that often tells a story

nursery school -n

  1. a school for children usu. under five years

nurse's aide -n

  1. a worker who assists trained nurses in a hospital by performing unspecialized services (as giving baths)

nurse shark -n

  1. any of various sharks (as family Ginglymostomatidae)
  2. a shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum) of warm waters

nursing -n

  1. the profession of a nurse
    • schools of nursing
  2. the duties of a nurse
    • proper nursing is difficult work

nursing home -n

  1. a privately operated establishment providing maintenance and personal or nursing care for persons (as the aged or the chronically ill) who are unable to care for themselves properly

nurs·ling ['nərs-liŋ] -n

  1. one that is solicitously cared for
  2. a nursing child

nur·tur·ance ['nər-chə-rən(t)s] -n, adj

  1. affectionate care and attention

nur·ture ['nər-chər] -n

  1. training, upbringing
  2. something that nourishes : food
  3. the sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism

nurture ['nərch-riŋ, 'nər-chə-] -vt, n

  1. to supply with nourishment
  2. educate
  3. to further the development of : foster

nut ['nət] -n, adj

  1. a hard-shelled dry fruit or seed with a separable rind or shell and interior kernel
  2. the kernel of a nut
  3. a dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp
  4. a hard problem or undertaking
  5. core, heart
  6. a perforated block usu. of metal that has an internal screw thread and is used on a bolt or screw for tightening or holding something
  7. the ridge in a stringed instrument (as a violin) over which the strings pass on the upper end of the fingerboard
  8. a small lump (as of butter)
  9. a foolish, eccentric, or crazy person
  10. enthusiast
    • a movie nut
  11. nonsense often used interjectionally
  12. a person's head
  13. testis
  14. the amount of money that must be earned in order to break even
  15. en
  16. to gather or seek nuts

nu·tate ['nü-,tāt, 'nyü-] -vi

  1. to exhibit or undergo nutation

nu·ta·tion [nü-'tā-shən, nyü-] -n, adj

  1. the act of nodding the head
  2. oscillatory movement of the axis of a rotating body (as the earth) : wobble
  3. a spontaneous usu. spiral movement of a growing plant part

nutbrown ['nət-'brau̇n] -adj

  1. of the color of a brown nut

nut·case [-,kās] -n

  1. nut

nut·crack·er [-,kra-kər] -n

  1. an implement for cracking nuts

nut·gall [-,gȯl] -n

  1. a gall that resembles a nut
  2. such a gall produced on oaks

nut grass -n

  1. a perennial sedge ( Cyperus rotundus) of wide distribution that has slender rootstocks bearing small edible tubers resembling nuts
  2. a related sedge ( C. esculentus)

nut·hatch ['nət-,hach] -n

  1. any of various small tree-climbing chiefly insectivorous birds (family Sittidae and esp. genus Sitta) that have a compact body, a narrow bill, a short tail, and sometimes a black cap

nut·house ['nət-,hau̇s] -n

  1. a mental hospital

nut·let ['nət-lət] -n

  1. a small nut
  2. a small fruit similar to a nut
  3. the stone of a drupelet

nut·meg ['nət-,meg, -,māg] -n

  1. an aromatic seed produced by an evergreen tree ( Myristica fragransof the family Myristicaceae, the nutmeg family) native to the Moluccas
  2. the ground seed used as a spice
  3. a tree yielding nutmeg

nut·pick ['nət-,pik] -n

  1. a small sharp-pointed implement for extracting the kernels from nuts

nu·tra·ceu·ti·cal [,nü-trə-'sü-ti-kəl] -n

  1. a foodstuff (as a fortified food or dietary supplement) that provides health benefits in addition to its basic nutritional value

nu·tria ['nü-trē-ə, 'nyü-] -n

  1. the durable usu. light brown fur of a nutria
  2. a large So. American semiaquatic rodent ( Myocastor coypus) with webbed hind feet and a round nearly hairless tail that has been introduced into parts of Europe, Asia, and No. America

nu·tri·ent ['nü-trē-ənt, 'nyü-] -adj

  1. furnishing nourishment

nutrient -n

  1. a nutritive substance or ingredient

nu·tri·ment ['nü-trə-mənt, 'nyü-] -n

  1. something that nourishes or promotes growth, provides energy, repairs body tissues, and maintains life

nu·tri·tion [nu̇-'tri-shən, nyu̇-] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act or process of nourishing or being nourished
  2. the sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substances
  3. nourishment

nu·tri·tion·ist [-'tri-sh(ə-)nist] -n

  1. a specialist in the study of nutrition

nu·tri·tious [nu̇-'tri-shəs, nyu̇-] -adj, adv, n

  1. nourishing

nu·tri·tive ['nü-trə-tiv, 'nyü-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to nutrition
  2. nourishing

nutritive ratio -n

  1. the ratio of digestible protein to other nutrients in a foodstuff or ration

nuts ['nəts] -adj

  1. enthusiastic, keen
    • nuts for animals and children -- Rick Reilly
  2. insane, crazy
    • said that it was a novel and all the people who said otherwise were nuts -- Flannery O'Connor

nuts and bolts -n, adj

  1. the working parts or elements
  2. the practical workings of a machine or enterprise as opposed to theoretical considerations or speculative possibilities

nut·sedge ['nət-,sej] -n

  1. nut grass

nut·shell ['nət-,shel] -n

  1. the hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is enclosed
  2. something of small size, amount, or scope

nut·ter ['nə-tər] -n

  1. nut

nut·ty ['nə-tē] -adj, adv, n

  1. having or producing nuts
  2. having a flavor like that of nuts
  3. eccentric, silly
  4. mentally unbalanced

NuuChahNulth [,nü-'chä-nu̇l] -n

  1. nootka

nux vom·i·ca ['nəks-'vä-mi-kə] -n

  1. the poisonous disk-shaped seed of a tree ( Strychnos nux-vomicaof the family Loganiaceae) of southern Asia that contains several alkaloids and esp. strychnine and brucine
  2. the tree yielding nux vomica
  3. a drug containing nux vomica

Nu·yo·ri·can [,nü-yȯr-'rē-kən] -n, adj

  1. a person of Puerto Rican birth or descent who is a current or former resident of New York City

nuz·zle ['nə-zəl] -vb

  1. to work with or as if with the nose
  2. to root, rub, or snuff something
  3. to lie close or snug
  4. to root, rub, or touch with or as if with the nose
  5. to rub or push gently (as one's face) against something