Nub (Noun)
Meaning 1
A small lump or protuberance.
Classification
Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes.
Examples
- The small nub on the end of the zipper made it difficult to grasp.
- A nub of bone was visible under the skin of her injured elbow.
- The nub of the pencil was all that was left after hours of use.
- A small nub on the tree trunk marked the spot where a branch had been cut off.
- The nub on the back of the phone case made it easy to grip.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
- Protrusion
- Protuberance
- Hump
- Excrescence
- Prominence
- Gibbosity
- Gibbousness
- Jut
- Extrusion
- Swelling
- Bump
Related Words
Meaning 2
A small piece; "a nub of coal"; "a stub of a pencil".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made).
Examples
- She grasped the nub of a pencil that was all that remained of the once-sharp writing instrument.
- The small nub of wood stuck out from the otherwise smooth surface of the table.
- A nub of soap was all that was left of the bar she had been using for weeks.
- The hikers used a nub of a tree branch to mark their trail in the dense forest.
- After hours of writing, the eraser was worn down to a small nub that was almost useless.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story".
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The point of the policy is not the paperwork, but the nub of getting people back to work.
- To me, the nub of this story is the realization that even the smallest gestures can make a big impact.
- Although the professor spent hours discussing the theory, the nub of his argument was that the key to success lies in simplicity.
- After hours of debate, the politicians were still struggling to get to the nub of the issue and find a mutually beneficial solution.
- The nub of the novel lies in the author's portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the choices we make.
Synonyms
- Nitty-gritty
- Inwardness
- Center
- Gist
- Substance
- Heart
- Centre
- Meat
- Marrow
- Pith
- Heart And Soul
- Kernel
- Sum
- Essence
- Core