Nuance
Nu•ance´, n. [F.] A shade of difference; a delicate gradation.
Nub, v. t. [Cf. Knob.] To push; to nudge; also to beckon. [Prov. Eng.]
Nub, n. A jag, or snag; a knob; a protuberance; also the point or gist, as of a story. [Colloq.]
Nubbin
Nub´bin, n. A small or imperfect ear of maize. [Colloq. U. S.]
Nubia
Nu´bi•a, n. [From L. nubes cloud.] A light fabric of wool, worn on the head by women; a cloud.
Nubian
Nu´bi•an, a. Of or pertaining to Nubia in Eastern Africa. — n. A native of Nubia.
Nubigenous
Nu•big´e•nous, a. [L. nubes cloud + -genous.] Born of, or produced from, clouds. [R.]
Nubile
Nu´bile, a. [L. nubilis, fr. nubere to marry: cf. F. nubile. See Nuptial.] Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable. Prior.
Nucamentaceous
Nu•ca•men•ta´ceous, a. [See Nucament.] (Bot.) Like a nut either in structure or in being indehiscent; bearing one-seeded nutlike fruits. [Written also nucumentaceous.]
Nucellus
Nu•cel´lus, n. ; pl. Nucelli (#). [NL., dim. of nux, nucis, a nut.] (Bot.) See Nucleus, 3 (a).
Nucha
Nu´cha, n. ; pl. Nuch (#). [LL.] (Zoöl.) The back or upper part of the neck; the nape.
Nuciferous
Nu•cif´er•ous, a. [L. nux, nucis, nut + -ferous.] Bearing, or producing, nuts.
Nuciform
Nu´ci•form, a. [L. nux, nucis, nut + -form.] (Bot.) Shaped like a nut; nut-shaped.
Nucin
Nu´cin, n. [L. nux, nucis, a nut.] (Chem.) See Juglone. { Nu´cle•al, Nu´cle•ar } a. Of or pertaining to a nucleus; as the nuclear spindle (see Illust. of Karyokinesis) or the nuclear fibrils of a cell; the nuclear part of a comet, etc.
Nucleate
Nu´cle•ate, a. [L. nucleatus having a kernel.] Having a nucleus; nucleated.
Nucleated
Nu´cle•a•ted, a. Having a nucleus; nucleate; as nucleated cells.
Nucleiform
Nu•cle´i•form, a. [L. nucleus kernel + -form.] Formed like a nucleus or kernel.
Nucleobranchiata
Nu•cle•o•bran•chi•a´ta, n. pl. [NL. See Nucleus, and Branchia] (Zoöl.) See Heteropoda.
Nucleoidioplasma
Nu•cle•o•id•i•o•plas´ma, n. [NL. See Nucleus, and Idioplasma.] (Biol.) Hyaline plasma contained in the nucleus of vegetable cells.
Nucleolar
Nu•cle´o•lar, a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to the nucleolus of a cell.
Nucleolated
Nu´cle•o•la•ted, a. Having a nucleole, or second inner nucleus.
Nucleole
Nu´cle•ole, n. [See Nucleolus.] The nucleus within a nucleus; nucleolus.
Nucleolus
Nu•cle´o•lus, n. ; pl. Nucleoli (#). [L., a little nut, dim. of nucleus.]
1. A little nucleus.
2. (Biol.) A small rounded body contained in the nucleus of a cell or a protozoan. It was termed by Agassiz the entoblast. In the protozoa, where it may be situated on one side of the nucleus, it is sometimes called the endoplastule, and is supposed to be concerned in the male part of the reproductive process. See Nucleus.
Nucleus
Nu´cle•us, n. ; pl. E. Nucleuses (#), L. Nuclei (#). [L., a kernel, dim. fr. nux, nucis, nut. Cf. Newel post.]
1. A kernel; hence, a central mass or point about which matter is gathered, or to which accretion is made; the central or material portion; — used both literally and figuratively.
"It must contain within itself a nucleus of truth." I. Taylor.
2. (Astron.) The body or the head of a comet.
3. (Bot.) (a) An incipient ovule of soft cellular tissue. (b) A whole seed, as contained within the seed coats.
4. (Biol.) A body, usually spheroidal, in a cell or a protozoan, distinguished from the surrounding protoplasm by a difference in refrangibility and in behavior towards chemical reagents. It is more or less protoplasmic, and consists of a clear fluid (achromatin) through which extends a network of fibers (chromatin) in which may be suspended a second rounded body, the nucleolus (see Nucleoplasm). See Cell division, under Division. The nucleus is sometimes termed the endoplast or endoblast, and in the protozoa is supposed to be concerned in the female part of the reproductive process. See Karyokinesis.
5. (Zoöl.) (a) The tip, or earliest part, of a univalve or bivalve shell. (b) The central part around which additional growths are added, as of an operculum. (c) A visceral mass, containing the stomach and other organs, in Tunicata and some mollusks.
Nucule
Nu´cule (nu"kul), n. [L. nucula a small nut.] (Bot.) Same as Nutlet.
Nucumentaceous
Nu•cu•men•ta´ceous, a. (Bot.) See Nucamentaceous.
Nudation
Nu•da´tion, n. [L. nudatio, fr. nudare to make naked, fr. nudus naked. See Nude.] The act of stripping, or making bare or naked.
Nuddle
Nud´dle, v. i. To walk quickly with the head bent forward; — often with along. [Prov. Eng.]
Nude, a. [L. nudus. See Naked.]
1. Bare; naked; unclothed; undraped; as a nude statue.
2. (Law) Naked; without consideration; void; as a nude contract. See Nudum pactum. Blackstone. The nude, the undraped human figure in art. — Nude´ly, adv. - Nude´ness, n.
Nudge, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nudge p. pr. & vb. n. Nudging.] [Cf. Prov. G. knütschen to squeeze, pinch, E. Knock.] To touch gently, as with the elbow, in order to call attention or convey intimation.
Nudibranchiata
Nu•di•bran•chi•a´ta, n. pl. [NL. See Nude, and Branchia.] (Zoöl.) A division of opisthobranchiate mollusks, having no shell except while very young. The gills are naked and situated upon the back or sides. See Ceratobranchia.
Nudibranchiate
Nu•di•bran´chi•ate, a. & n. (Zoöl.) Same as Nudibranch.
Nudicaul
Nu´di•caul, a. [L. nudus naked + caulis stem.] (Bot.) Having the stems leafless.
Nudification
Nu•di•fi•ca´tion, n. [L. nudus naked + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See - fy.] The act of making nude.
Nugation
Nu•ga´tion, n. [Cf. OF. nugation.] The act or practice of trifling. [R.] Bacon.
Nugget
Nug´get, n. [Earlier niggot, prob. for nigot, an ingot. See Ingot.] A lump; a mass, esp. a native lump of a precious metal; as a nugget of gold.
Nuisance
Nui´sance, n. [OE. noisance, OF. noisance, nuisance, fr. L. nocentia guilt, fr. nocere to hurt, harm; akin to necare to kill. Cf Necromancy, Nocent, Noxious, Pernicious.] That which annoys or gives trouble and vexation; that which is offensive or noxious. Nuisances are public when they annoy citizens in general; private, when they affect individuals only.
Nuisancer
Nui´san•cer, n. (Law) One who makes or causes a nuisance.
Nul, a. [F. See Null, a. ] (Law) No; not any; as nul disseizin; nul tort.
Null, a. [L. nullus not any, none; n. not + ullus any, a dim. of unus one; cf. F. nul. See No, and One, and cf. None.] Of no legal or binding force or validity; of no efficacy; invalid; void; nugatory; useless.
"Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null,
Dead perfection; no more." Tennyson.
Null, n.
1. Something that has no force or meaning.
2. That which has no value; a cipher; zero. Bacon. Null method (Physics.), a zero method. See under Zero.
Null, v. t. [From null, a., or perh. abbrev. from annul.] To annul. [Obs.] Milton.
Null, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] One of the beads in nulled work.
Nullibiety
Nul•li•bi´e•ty, n. [L. nullibi nowhere.] The state or condition of being nowhere. [Obs.]
Nullification
Nul•li•fi•ca´tion, n. [L. nullificatio contempt. See Nullify.] The act of nullifying; a rendering void and of no effect, or of no legal effect. Right of nullification (U. S. Hist.), the right claimed in behalf of a State to nullify or make void, by its sovereign act or decree, an enactment of the general government which it deems unconstitutional.
Nullify
Nul´li•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nullified p. pr. & vb. n. Nullifying ] [L. nullificare; nullus none + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Null, a. , and -fy.] To make void; to render invalid; to deprive of legal force or efficacy.
"Such correspondence would at once nullify the conditions of the probationary system." I. Taylor.
Syn. — To abrogate; revoke; annul; repeal; invalidate; cancel. See Abolish.
Nullity
Nul´li•ty, n. ; pl. Nullities. [LL. nullitias, fr. L. nullus none: cf. F. nullite . See Null.]
1. The quality or state of being null; nothingness; want of efficacy or force.
2. (Law) Nonexistence; as a decree of nullity of marriage is a decree that no legal marriage exists.
3. That which is null.
"Was it not absurd to say that the convention was supreme in the state, and yet a nullity ?" Macaulay.
Numb, a. [OE. nume, nome, prop., seized, taken, p. p. of nimen to take, AS. niman, p. p. numen. rad.7. See Nimble, Nomad, and cf. Benumb.]
1. Enfeebled in, or destitute of, the power of sensation and motion; rendered torpid; benumbed; insensible; as the fingers or limbs are numb with cold. "A stony image, cold and numb." Shak.
2. Producing numbness; benumbing; as the numb, cold night. [Obs.] Shak.
Numb, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Numbed p. pr. & vb. n. Numbing ] To make numb; to deprive of the power of sensation or motion; to render senseless or inert; to deaden; to benumb; to stupefy.
"For lazy winter numbs the laboring hand." Dryden.
"Like dull narcotics, numbing pain." Tennyson.
Number
Num´ber, n. [OE. nombre, F. nombre, L. numerus; akin to Gr. that which is dealt out, fr. to deal out, distribute. See Numb, Nomad, and cf. Numerate, Numero, Numerous.]
1. That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by figures.
2. A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a multitude; many.
"Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never fail to win over numbers." Addison.
3. A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as to put a number on a door.
4. Numerousness; multitude.
"Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of weak courage." Bacon.
5. The state or quality of being numerable or countable.
"Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number." 2 Esdras iii. 7.
6. Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.
7. That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; — chiefly used in the plural.
"I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came." Pope.
8. (Gram.) The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually) by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than one.
9. (Math.) The measure of the relation between quantities or things of the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of being expressed by figures; numerical value. Abstract number, Abundant number, Cardinal number, etc. See under Abstract, Abundant, etc. — In numbers, in numbered parts; as a book published in numbers.
Number
Num´ber, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Numbered p. pr & vb. n. Numbering.] [OE. nombren, noumbren, F. nombrer, fr. L. numerare, numeratum. See Number, n. ]
1. To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.
"If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered." Gen. xiii. 16.
2. To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.
"He was numbered with the transgressors." Is. liii. 12.
3. To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or numeral; as to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a building.
4. To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as the army numbers fifty thousand.
"Thy tears can not number the dead." Campbell. Numbering machine, a machine for printing consecutive numbers, as on railway tickets, bank bills, etc.
Syn. — To count; enumerate; calculate; tell.
Numbers
Num´bers, n. pl. of Number. The fourth book of the Pentateuch, containing the census of the Hebrews.
Numbfish
Numb´fish, n. (Zoöl.) The torpedo, which numbs by the electric shocks which it gives.
Numerable
Nu´mer•a•ble, a. [L. numerabilis. See Number, v. t.] Capable of being numbered or counted.
Numeral
Nu´mer•al, a. [L. numeralis, fr. numerus number: cf. F. numeral. See Number, n. ]
1. Of or pertaining to number; consisting of number or numerals.
"A long train of numeral progressions." Locke.
2. Expressing number; representing number; as numeral letters or characters, as X or 10 for ten.
Numerally
Nu´mer•al•ly, adv. According to number; in number; numerically.
Numerate
Nu´mer•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Numerated p. pr. & vb. n. Numerating ] [L. numeratus, p. p. of numerare to count. See Number, v. ] (Arith.) To divide off and read according to the rules of numeration; as to numerate a row of figures.
Numerative
Nu´mer•a•tive, a. Of or pertaining to numeration; as a numerative system. Eng. Cyc.
Numerator
Nu´mer•a´tor, n. [L. numerator: cf. F. numerateur.]
1. One who numbers.
2. (Math.) The term in a fraction which indicates the number of fractional units that are taken. In a vulgar fraction the numerator is written above a line; thus, in the fraction &frac59; (five ninths) 5 is the numerator; in a decimal fraction it is the number which follows the decimal point. See Fraction. { Nu•mer´ic, Nu•mer´ic•al } a. [Cf. F. numerique. See Number, n. ]
1. Belonging to number; denoting number; consisting in numbers; expressed by numbers, and not letters; as numerical characters; a numerical equation; a numerical statement. Numerical, as opposed to algebraical, is used to denote a value irrespective of its sign; thus, -5 is numerically greater than -3, though algebraically less.
2. The same in number; hence, identically the same; identical; as the same numerical body. [Obs.] South.
"Would to God that all my fellow brethren, which with me bemoan the loss of their books, … might rejoice for the recovery thereof, though not the same numerical volumes." Fuller. Numerical equation (Alg.), an equation which has all the quantities except the unknown expressed in numbers; — distinguished from literal equation. — Numerical value of an equation or expression, that deduced by substituting numbers for the letters, and reducing.
Numerist
Nu´mer•ist, n. One who deals in numbers. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Numero
Nu´me•ro, n. [It., or F. numero ; both fr. L. numerus number.] Number; — often abbrev. No.
Numerous
Nu´mer•ous, a. [L. numerosus. See Number.]
1. Consisting of a great number of units or individual objects; being many; as a numerous army.
"Such and so numerous was their chivalry." Milton.
2. Consisting of poetic numbers; rhythmical; measured and counted; melodious; musical. [Obs.]
"Such prompt eloquence
Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse." Milton. — Nu´mer•ous•ly, adv. — Nu´mer•ous•ness, n.
Numidian
Nu•mid´i•an, a. Of or pertaining to ancient Numidia in Northern Africa. Numidian crane. (Zoöl.) See Demoiselle, 2. { Nu•mis•mat´ic, Nu•mis•mat´ic•al } a. [L. numisma, nomisma, a piece of money, coin, fr. Gr. anything sanctioned by usage, the current coin, fr. to introduce a custom, or usage, fr. a custom, or usage, fr. to distribute, assign: cf. F. numismatique. See Nomad.] Of or pertaining to coins; relating to the science of coins or medals.
Numismatics
Nu•mis•mat´ics, n. [Cf. F. numismatique.] The science of coins and medals.
Numismatist
Nu•mis´ma•tist, n. One skilled in numismatics; a numismatologist.
Numismatologist
Nu•mis•ma•tol´o•gist, n. One versed in numismatology.
Nummulites
Num•mu•li´tes, n. [NL. See Nummulite.] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct Tertiary Foraminifera, having a thin, flat, round shell, containing a large number of small chambers arranged spirally.
Nummulitic
Num•mu•lit´ic, a. Of, like, composed of, containing, nummulites; as nummulitic beds.
Numps, n. [Cf. Numb.] A dolt; a blockhead. [Obs.] Bp. Parker.
Nun, n. [OE. nunne, AS. nunne, fr. L. nonna nun, nonnus monk; cf. Gr., ; of unknown origin. Cf. Nunnery.]
1. A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a convent, under the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
"They holy time is quiet as a nun
Breathless with adoration." Wordsworth.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of feathers covering the head. (b) The smew. (c) The European blue titmouse. Gray nuns (R. C. Ch.), the members of a religious order established in Montreal in 1745, whence branches were introduced into the United States in 1853; — so called from the color or their robe, and known in religion as Sisters of Charity of Montreal. — Nun buoy. See under Buoy.
Nunchion
Nun´chion, n. [OE. nonechenche, for noneschenche, prop., a noon drink; none noon + schenchen, schenken, skinken, to pour, AS. scencan. See Noon, and Skink, v. i.] A portion of food taken at or after noon, usually between full meals; a luncheon. [Written also noonshun.] Hudibras.
Nunciate
Nun´ci•ate, n. One who announces; a messenger; a nuncio. [Obs.] Hoole.
Nunciature
Nun´ci•a•ture, n. [L. nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, fr. nuncius, nuntius, messenger: cf. F. nonciature, It. nunziatura. See Nuncio.] The office of a nuncio. Clarendon.
Nuncio
Nun´ci•o, n. ; pl. Nuncios (#). [It. nunzio, nuncio, fr. L. nuncius, nuntius, messenger; perh. akin to novus new, E. new, and thus, one who brings news. Cf. Announce.]
1. A messenger. [Obs.] Shak.
2. The permanent official representative of the pope at a foreign court or seat of government. Distinguished from a legate a latere, whose mission is temporary in its nature, or for some special purpose. Nuncios are of higher rank than internuncios.
Nuncupation
Nun•cu•pa´tion, n. [L. nuncupatio.] The act of nuncupating. [Obs.]
Nundinate
Nun´di•nate, v. i. [L. nundinatus, p. p. of nundinary to attend fairs, to traffic. See Nundinal, a. ] To buy and sell at fairs or markets. [Obs.]
Nunnery
Nun´ner•y, n. ; pl. Nunneries (#). [OE. nonnerie, OF. nonerie, F. nonnerie, fr. nonne nun, L. nonna. See Nun.] A house in which nuns reside; a cloister or convent in which women reside for life, under religious vows. See Cloister, and Convent.
Nup, n. Same as Nupson. [Obs.]
Nuphar
Nu´phar, n. [Per. nfar.] (Bot.) A genus of plants found in the fresh-water ponds or lakes of Europe, Asia, and North America; the yellow water lily. Cf. Nymphaea.
Nupson
Nup´son, n. [Of doubtful origin.] A simpleton; a fool. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Nur, n. [Cf. Knur.] A hard knot in wood; also a hard knob of wood used by boys in playing hockey.
"I think I’m as hard as a nur, and as tough as whitleather." W. Howitt.
Nurl, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nurled p. pr. & vb. n. Nurling.] [Cf. Knurl.] To cut with reeding or fluting on the edge of, as coins, the heads of screws, etc.; to knurl.
Nurse, n. [OE. nourse, nurice, norice, OF. nurrice, norrice, nourrice, F. nourrice, fr. L. nutricia nurse, prop., fem. of nutricius that nourishes; akin to nutrix, -icis, nurse, fr. nutrire to nourish. See Nourish, and cf. Nutritious.]
1. One who nourishes; a person who supplies food, tends, or brings up; as: (a) A woman who has the care of young children; especially, one who suckles an infant not her own. (b) A person, especially a woman, who has the care of the sick or infirm.
2. One who, or that which, brings up, rears, causes to grow, trains, fosters, or the like.
"The nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise." Burke.
3. (Naut.) A lieutenant or first officer, who is the real commander when the captain is unfit for his place.
4. (Zoöl.) (a) A peculiar larva of certain trematodes which produces cercariae by asexual reproduction. See Cercaria, and Redia. (b) Either one of the nurse sharks. Nurse shark. (Zoöl.) (a) A large arctic shark ( Somniosus microcephalus), having small teeth and feeble jaws; — called also sleeper shark, and ground shark. (b) A large shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum), native of the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico, having the dorsal fins situated behind the ventral fins. — To put to nurse, or To put out to nurse, to send away to be nursed; to place in the care of a nurse. — Wet nurse, Dry nurse. See Wet nurse, and Dry nurse, in the Vocabulary.
Nurse, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nursed p. pr. & vb. n. Nursing.]
1. To nourish; to cherish; to foster; as: (a) To nourish at the breast; to suckle; to feed and tend, as an infant. (b) To take care of or tend, as a sick person or an invalid; to attend upon.
"Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age." Milton.
"Him in Egerian groves Aricia bore,
And nursed his youth along the marshy shore." Dryden.
2. To bring up; to raise, by care, from a weak or invalid condition; to foster; to cherish; — applied to plants, animals, and to any object that needs, or thrives by, attention. "To nurse the saplings tall." Milton.
"By what hands [has vice] been nursed into so uncontrolled a dominion?" Locke.
3. To manage with care and economy, with a view to increase; as to nurse our national resources.
4. To caress; to fondle, as a nurse does. A. Trollope.To nurse billiard balls, to strike them gently and so as to keep them in good position during a series of caroms.
Nurser
Nurs´er, n. One who nurses; a nurse; one who cherishes or encourages growth.
Nurture
Nur´ture, n. [OE. norture, noriture, OF. norriture, norreture, F. nourriture, fr. L. nutritura a nursing, suckling. See Nourish.]
1. The act of nourishing or nursing; thender care; education; training.
"A man neither by nature nor by nurture wise." Milton.
2. That which nourishes; food; diet. Spenser.
Nurture
Nur´ture, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nurtured p. pr. & vb. n. Nurturing.]
1. To feed; to nourish.
2. To educate; to bring or train up.
"He was nurtured where he had been born." Sir H. Wotton.
Syn. — To nourish; nurse; cherish; bring up; educate; tend. — To Nurture, Nourish, Cherish. Nourish denotes to supply with food, or cause to grow; as to nourish a plant, to nourish rebellion. To nurture is to train up with a fostering care, like that of a mother; as to nurture into strength; to nurture in sound principles. To cherish is to hold and treat as dear; as to cherish hopes or affections.
Nustle
Nus´tle, v. t. [Cf. Nuzzle.] To fondle; to cherish. [Obs.]
Nut, n. [OE. nute, note, AS. hnutu; akin to D. noot, G. nuss, OHG. nuz, Icel. hnot, Sw. nöt, Dan. nöd.]
1. (Bot.) The fruit of certain trees and shrubs (as of the almond, walnut, hickory, beech, filbert, etc.), consisting of a hard and indehiscent shell inclosing a kernel.
2. A perforated block (usually a small piece of metal), provided with an internal or female screw thread, used on a bolt, or screw, for tightening or holding something, or for transmitting motion. See Illust. of lst Bolt.
3. The tumbler of a gunlock. Knight.
4. (Naut.) A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place. Check nut, Jam nut, Lock nut, a nut which is screwed up tightly against another nut on the same bolt or screw, in order to prevent accidental unscrewing of the first nut. — Nut buoy. See under Buoy. — Nut coal, screened coal of a size smaller than stove coal and larger than pea coal; — called also chestnut coal. - - Nut crab (Zoöl.), any leucosoid crab of the genus Ebalia as Ebalia tuberosa of Europe. — Nut grass (Bot.), a plant of the Sedge family ( Cyperus rotundus, var. Hydra), which has slender rootstocks bearing small, nutlike tubers, by which the plant multiplies exceedingly, especially in cotton fields. — Nut lock, a device, as a metal plate bent up at the corners, to prevent a nut from becoming unscrewed, as by jarring. — Nut pine. (Bot.) See under Pine. — Nut rush (Bot.), a genus of cyperaceous plants ( Scleria) having a hard bony achene. Several species are found in the United States and many more in tropical regions. — Nut tree, a tree that bears nuts. — Nut weevil (Zoöl.), any species of weevils of the genus Balaninus and other allied genera, which in the larval state live in nuts.
Nut, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Nutted p. pr. & vb. n. Nutting.] To gather nuts.
Nutbreaker
Nut´break•er, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The European nuthatch. (b) The nutcracker.
Nut-brown
Nut´-brown, a. Brown as a nut long kept and dried. "The spicy nutbrown ale." Milton.
Nutgall
Nut´gall, n. A more or less round gall resembling a nut, esp. one of those produced on the oak and used in the arts. See Gall, Gallnut.
Nuthatch
Nut´hatch, n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d Hack.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus Sitta, as the European species ( Sitta Europaea). The white-breasted nuthatch ( S. Carolinensis), the red-breasted nuthatch ( S. Canadensis), the pygmy nuthatch ( S. pygmaea), and others, are American.
Nutlet
Nut´let, n. (Bot.) A small nut; also the stone of a drupe.
Nutmeg
Nut´meg, n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See Nut, and Musk.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ( Myristica fragrans), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere in the tropics. This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior quality. American, Calabash, or Jamaica, nutmeg, the fruit of a tropical shrub ( Monodora Myristica). It is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp. — Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit of a lauraceous tree, Cryptocarya moschata. — California nutmeg, tree of the Yew family ( Torreya Californica), growing in the Western United States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but is strongly impregnated with turpentine. — Clove nutmeg, the Ravensara aromatica, a laura ceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic. — Jamaica nutmeg. See American nutmeg (above). — Nutmeg bird (Zoöl.), an Indian finch ( Munia punctularia). — Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by expression. — Nutmeg flower (Bot.), a ranunculaceous herb ( Nigella sativa) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and clothing. — Nutmeg liver (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when, as the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a nutmeg. — Nutmeg melon (Bot.), a small variety of muskmelon of a rich flavor. — Nutmeg pigeon (Zoöl.), any one of several species of pigeons of the genus Myristicivora, native of the East Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or cream-white, with black on the wings and tail. — Nutmeg wood (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm. — Peruvian nutmeg, the aromatic seed of a South American tree ( Laurelia sempervirens). — Plume nutmeg (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia ( Atherosperma moschata).
Nutria
Nu´tri•a, n. [Sp. nutria an otter, fr. L. lutra, lytra.] The fur of the coypu. See Coypu.
Nutrient
Nu´tri•ent, a. [L. nutriens, p. pr. of nutrire. See Nourish.] Nutritious; nourishing; promoting growth. — n. Any substance which has nutritious qualities, i. e., which nourishes or promotes growth.
Nutriment
Nu´tri•ment, n. [L. nutrimentum, fr. nutrire to nourish. See Nourish.]
1. That which nourishes; anything which promotes growth and repairs the natural waste of animal or vegetable life; food; aliment.
"The stomach returns what it has received, in strength and nutriment diffused into all parts of the body." South.
2. That which promotes development or growth.
"Is not virtue in mankind
The nutriment that feeds the mind ?" Swift.
Nutritial
Nu•tri´tial, a. Pertaining to, or connected with, nutrition; nutritious. [Obs.] Chapman.
Nutrition
Nu•tri´tion, n. [Cf. F. nutrition. See Nutritious.]
1. (Physiol.) In the broadest sense, a process or series of processes by which the living organism as a whole (or its component parts or organs) is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth. In this wide sense it comprehends digestion, absorption, circulation, assimilation, etc., in fact all of the steps by which the nutritive matter of the food is fitted for incorporation with the different tissues, and the changes which it undergoes after its assimilation, prior to its excretion. See Metabolism.
2. (Physiol.) In a more limited sense, the process by which the living tissues take up, from the blood, matters necessary either for their repair or for the performance of their healthy functions.
3. That which nourishes; nutriment.
"Fixed like a plant, on his peculiar spot,
To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot." Pope.
Nutritional
Nu•tri´tion•al, a. Of or pertaining to nutrition; as nutritional changes.
Nutritious
Nu•tri´tious, a. [L. nutricius, nutritius, from nutrix, -icis, a nurse, nutrire to nourish. See Nurse, Nourish.] Nourishing; promoting growth, or preventing decay; alimental. — Nu•tri´tious•ly, adv. — Nu•tri´tious•ness, n.
Nutritive
Nu´tri•tive, a. [Cf. F. nutritif.] Of or pertaining to nutrition; as the nutritive functions; having the quality of nourishing; nutritious; nutrimental; alimental; as nutritive food or berries. Nutritive plasma. (Biol.) See Idioplasma. — Nutritive polyp (Zoöl.), any one of the zooids of a compound hydroid, or coral, which has a mouth and digestive cavity. — Nu´tri•tive•ly, adv. — Nu´tri•tive•ness, n.
Nutty
Nut´ty, a.
1. Abounding in nuts.
2. Having a flavor like that of nuts; as nutty wine.
Nuzzle
Nuz´zle, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nuzzied p. pr. & vb. n. Nuzzling ] [See Noursle.]
1. To noursle or nurse; to foster; to bring up. [Obs.]
"The people had been nuzzled in idolatry." Milton.
2. [Perh. a corruption of nestle. Cf. Nustle.] To nestle; to house, as in a nest.
Nuzzle
Nuz´zle, v. i. [Dim. fr. nose. See Nozzle.]
1. To work with the nose, like a swine in the mud.
"And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine
Sheathed, unaware, the tusk in his soft groin." Shak.
"He charged through an army of lawyers, sometimes … nuzzling like an eel in the mud." Arbuthnot.
2. To go with head poised like a swine, with nose down.
"Sir Roger shook his ears, and nuzzled along." Arbuthnot.
3. [Cf. Nuzzle, v. t., 2.] To hide the head, as a child in the mother’s bosom; to nestle.
4. To loiter; to idle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.