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Niccolite

A mineral of a copper-red color and metallic luster; an arsenide of nickel; -- called also coppernickel, kupfernickel.

Nice

Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.

Nicene

Of or pertaining to Nice, a town of Asia Minor, or to the ecumenical council held there a. d. 325.

Nicety

The quality or state of being nice (in any of the senses of that word.).

Niche

A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. Hence, any similar position, literal or figurative.

nichts

A quantity of no importance; nothing.

Nick

To nickname; to style.

Nickel

A bright silver-white metallic element of atomic number 28. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.70.

nickel-and-dime

Trivial; unimportant; petty; as, nickel-and-dime criticisms.

Nickelic

Pertaining to, or containing, nickel; specifically, designating compounds in which, as contrasted with the nickelous compounds, the metal has a higher valence; as nickelic oxide.

Nickeline

An alloy of nickel, a variety of German silver.

nickelodeon

A place of entertainment, as for moving picture exhibition, charging a fee or admission price of five cents.

Nickelous

Of, pertaining to, or designating, those compounds of nickel in which, as contrasted with the nickelic compounds, the metal has a lower valence; as, nickelous oxide.

Nicker

One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking windows with half-pence.

Nicking

The cutting made by the hewer at the side of the face. Small coal produced in making the nicking.

Nickle

The European woodpecker, or yaffle; -- called also nicker pecker.

nickname

A name given in affectionate familiarity, sportive familiarity, contempt, or derision; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation; as, Nicholas's nickname is Nick.

Nickname

To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname.

Nicolaitan

One of certain corrupt persons in the early church at Ephesus, who are censured in Rev. ii. 6, 15.

Nicotian

Pertaining to, or derived from, tobacco.

Nicotiana

A genus of American and Asiatic solanaceous herbs, with viscid foliage and funnel-shaped blossoms. Several species yield tobacco. See Tobacco.

Nicotianine

A white waxy substance having a hot, bitter taste, extracted from tobacco leaves and called also tobacco camphor.

Nicotidine

A complex, oily, nitrogenous base, isomeric with nicotine, and obtained by the reduction of certain derivatives of the pyridine group.

Nicotine

An alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco (C10H14N2). It occurs in tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rusticum) to the extent of 2 to 8%, in combination with malic acid or citric acid. It is a colorless, transparent, oily liquid, having an acrid odor, and an acrid burning taste. It is intensely poisonous. The apparently addictive effects of tobacco smoking have been ascribed largely to the effect of nicotine, and the controlled administration of nicotine on various forms has been used as a technique for assisting efforts to stop the smoking habit.

Nicotinic

Pertaining to, or derived from, nicotine; nicotic; -- used specifically to designate an acid related to pyridine, obtained by the oxidation of nicotine, and called nicotinic acid.

nicotinic acid

An organic acid (C6H5NO2), a carboxylated derivative of pyridine, obtained by the oxidation of nicotine; called also niacin and antipellagra vitamin, and vitamin B5. Chemically it is 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid.

Nicotinism

The morbid condition produced by the excessive use of tobacco.

Nidamental

Of, pertaining to, or bearing, eggs or egg capsules; as, the nidamental capsules of certain gastropods; nidamental glands. See Illust. of Dibranchiata.

Nide

A nestful; a brood; as, a nide of pheasants.

Nidgery

A trifle; a piece of foolery.

Nidget

A fool; an idiot, a coward.

Niding

A coward; a dastard; -- a term of utmost opprobrium.

Nidor

Scent or savor of meat or food, cooked or cooking.

Nidorous

Resembling the smell or taste of roast meat, or of corrupt animal matter.

Nidulant

Nestling, as a bird in its nest.

Nidulite

A Silurian fossil, formerly supposed to consist of eggs.

Nidus

A nest: a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a breeding place; esp., the place or substance where parasites or the germs of a disease effect lodgment or are developed.

Niece

A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or female; a granddaughter or a grandson.

Nief

See Neif, the fist.

Niellist

One who practices the style of ornamentation called niello.

Niello

A metallic alloy of a deep black color.

niff

An unpleasant smell.

niffy

Malodorous, unpleasant-smelling. Opposite of fragrant.

nifty

Very good; excellent; -- an informal term meaning about the same as groovy, sense 1.

nigella

any plant of the genus Nigella.

Nigerian

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the country Nigeria; as, The Nigerian capital used to be Lagos.

Nigerien

A native or inhabitant of Niger.

Niggard

To act the niggard toward; to be niggardly.

Niggardliness

The quality or state of being niggard; meanness in giving or spending; parsimony; stinginess.

nigged

Hammer-dressed; -- said of building stone.

nigger

A negro; -- in vulgar derision or depreciation. It is usually intended and interpreted as highly insulting and vulgar.

Niggerhead

A strong black chewing tobacco, usually in twisted plug form; negro head.

Niggle

To use, spend, or do in a petty or trifling manner.

Niggling

petty, trivial, or inconsequential.

niggling

Finicky or pottering work; Minute and very careful workmanship in drawing, painting, or the like, esp. when bestowed on unimportant detail.

Nigh

Near to; not remote or distant from.

Nighly

In a near relation in place, time, degree, etc.; within a little; almost.

Nighness

The quality or state of being nigh.

Night

That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the time between dusk and dawn, when there is no light of the sun, but only moonlight, starlight, or artificial light.

Night Before Christmas

The popular name for a poem by Clement Clarke Moore titled A Visit from St. Nicholas, a popular poem with the theme of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) coming to bring gifts to children on Christmans eve.

night owl

A person who likes to be active late at night.

night vision

The ability to see in reduced illumination (as in moonlight).

night-line

A fishing line with baited hooks left in the water to catch fish over night.

night-sight

The ability to see in reduced illumination (as in moonlight); night vision.

night-stop

A pause during a journey, to rest for the night.

nightbird

A person who likes to be active late at night; a night owl.

Nightcap

A cap worn in bed to protect the head, or in undress.

nightclothes

garments designed to be worn in bed, such as pyjamas, a nightgown, etc.

nightclub

An establishment providing entertainment (as singers, dancers, or comedy acts), usually open late into the night or early morning, typically serving alcoholic beverages and food.

nightcrawler

A terrestrial worm that burrows into and helps aerate soil; an earthworm. It often surfaces when the ground is cool or wet, and is used as bait by anglers. The term is used mostly in the northern and western U. S.

Nightfall

The close of the day; the arrival of the night; the period at and just after dusk.

Nightgown

A loose gown used for undress; also, a gown used for a sleeping garment.

nighthawk

A person who likes to be active late at night; a night owl.

nightie

Any loose-fitting clothing for wear in bed.

Nightingale

A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird (Luscinia megarhynchos syn. Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its song.

Nightjar

A goatsucker, esp. the European species. See Illust. of Goatsucker.

Nightman

One whose business is emptying privies by night.

Nightmare

A fiend or incubus formerly supposed to cause trouble in sleep.

nightmarish

Terrifying, as if in a nightmare{2}; resembling a nightmare{2}.

nightrider

member of a secret mounted band in the southern U. S. after the Civil War, which committed acts of intimidation and revenge.

Nightshade

A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous.

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