Synonyms

core, crux, gist, heart, pith, pivot—more at CRUX

nub·bin noun 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

nu·bile adjective 1 : of marriageable condition or age : sexually mature

2 : sexually attractive <~ young women>

nu·cle·ar adjective 1 : of, relating to, or constituting a nucleus

2 : of, relating to, or using the atomic nucleus or energy derived from it

3 : of, relating to, or being a weapon whose destructive power results from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction

nu·cle·ate verb -at·ed; -at·ing : to form, act as, or have a nucleus

— nu·cle·ation noun

nu·cle·ic acid noun : any of various complex organic acids (as DNA or RNA) found esp. in cell nuclei

nu·cle·o·tide noun [ORIGIN: NL, fr. L, kernel, dim. of nuc-, nux nut]

: any of several compounds that are the basic structural units of nucleic acids

nu·cle·us noun, plural nu·clei also nu·cle·us·es [ORIGIN: NL, fr. L, kernel, dim. of nuc-, nux nut]

1 : a central mass or part about which matter gathers or is collected : CORE

2 : a cell part that is characteristic of all living things except viruses, bacteria, and certain algae, that is necessary for heredity and for making proteins, that contains the chromosomes with their genes, and that is enclosed in a membrane

3 : a mass of gray matter or group of cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system

4 : the central part of an atom that comprises nearly all of the atomic mass

5 : a basic or essential part

Synonyms

base, center, core, cynosure, eye, focus, heart, hub, mecca, seat—more at CENTER

1nude adjective nud·er; nud·est 1 : devoid of a natural or conventional covering : BARE, NAKED

2 : featuring or catering to naked people

— nu·di·ty noun

Synonyms

bare, naked, unclad, unclothed, undressed—more at NAKED

2nude noun 1 : a nude human figure esp. as depicted in art

2 : the condition of being nude

nudge verb nudged; nudg·ing : to touch or push gently (as with the elbow) usu. in order to seek attention

— nudge noun

nud·ism noun : the practice of going nude esp. in mixed groups at specially secluded places

— nud·ist noun

nu·ga·to·ry adjective 1 : INCONSEQUENTIAL, WORTHLESS

2 : having no force : INEFFECTUAL

nug·get noun 1 : a solid lump; especially : a lump of precious metal (as gold)

2 : TIDBIT

nui·sance noun : an annoying or troublesome person or thing

Synonyms

annoyance, bother, gadfly, persecutor, pest, tease; also headache; harrier, heckler; hassle, plague; molester, tormentor, torturer

aggravation, annoyance, bother, exasperation, frustration, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irritant, peeve, pest, problem, thorn—more at ANNOYANCE

nuisance tax noun : an excise tax collected in small amounts directly from the consumer

1nuke noun 1 : a nuclear weapon

2 : a nuclear power plant

2nuke verb nuked; nuk·ing 1 : to attack with nuclear weapons

2 : MICROWAVE

null adjective 1 : having no legal or binding force : INVALID, VOID

2 : amounting to nothing

3 : INSIGNIFICANT

— nul·li·ty noun

Synonyms

[1] invalid, void; also illegal; useless, worthless; ineffective, ineffectual

Antonyms

binding, good, valid

[2] chaffy, empty, junky, no-good, valueless, worthless—more at WORTHLESS

null and void adjective : having no force, binding power, or validity

nul·li·fy verb -fied; -fy·ing : to make null or valueless; also : to declare or make legally invalid or void

— nul·li·fi·ca·tion noun

Synonyms

abolish, abrogate, annul, cancel, dissolve, invalidate, negate, quash, repeal, rescind, void—more at ABOLISH

num abbreviation numeral

Num or Numb abbreviation Numbers

numb adjective : lacking sensation or emotion

— numb·ly adverb

Synonyms

asleep, dead, unfeeling; also chilled, nipped; deadened, drugged, stupefied; insensible, senseless, unconscious; inanimate, insensate

Antonyms

feeling, sensitive

numb verb : to make