night|mare ◆◇◇ /na I tmeə r / (nightmares )
1 N‑COUNT A nightmare is a very frightening dream. □ All the victims still suffered nightmares. □ Jane did not eat cheese because it gives her nightmares.
2 N‑COUNT If you refer to a situation as a nightmare , you mean that it is very frightening and unpleasant. □ The years in prison were a nightmare.
3 N‑COUNT If you refer to a situation as a nightmare , you are saying in a very emphatic way that it is irritating because it causes you a lot of trouble. [EMPHASIS ] □ Taking my son Peter to a restaurant was a nightmare. □ In practice a graduate tax is an administrative nightmare. WORD HISTORY nightmare
Nightmare comes from night and Old English mare , meaning 'evil spirit'.
ni ght|mare sce|na rio (nightmare scenarios ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] If you describe a situation or event as a nightmare scenario , you mean that it is one of the worst possible things that could happen. □ The sudden outbreak of a lethal virus is a nightmare scenario.
night|mar|ish /na I tmeər I ʃ/ ADJ If you describe something as nightmarish , you mean that it is extremely frightening and unpleasant. □ She described a nightmarish scene of dead bodies lying in the streets.
ni ght owl (night owls ) N‑COUNT A night owl is someone who regularly stays up late at night, or who prefers to work at night. [INFORMAL ]
ni ght por|ter (night porters ) N‑COUNT A night porter is a person whose job is to be on duty at the main reception desk of a hotel throughout the night. [mainly BRIT ]
ni ght school (night schools ) N‑VAR Someone who goes to night school does an educational course in the evenings. □ People can go out to work in the daylight hours and then come to night school in the evening.
night|shirt /na I tʃɜː r t/ (nightshirts ) N‑COUNT A nightshirt is a long, loose shirt worn in bed.
night|spot /na I tspɒt/ (nightspots ) N‑COUNT A nightspot is a nightclub. [INFORMAL ] □ …Harlem's most famous nightspot, the Cotton Club.
ni ght stand (night stands ) N‑COUNT A night stand is a small table or cupboard that you have next to your bed. [AM ] in BRIT, use bedside table
night|stick /na I tst I k/ (nightsticks ) N‑COUNT A nightstick is a short thick club that is carried by police officers in the United States. [AM ] in BRIT, use truncheon
ni ght-time also night time N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Night-time is the period of time between when it gets dark and when the sun rises. □ They wanted someone responsible to look after the place at night-time. □ A twelve hour night time curfew is in force.
ni ght vi|sion N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Night vision equipment enables people, for example soldiers or pilots, to see better at night. □ …night vision goggles.
night|watch|man /na I twɒ tʃmən/ (nightwatchmen ) also night watchman N‑COUNT A nightwatchman is a person whose job is to guard buildings at night.
night|wear /na I tweə r / N‑UNCOUNT Nightwear is clothing that you wear in bed.
ni|hil|ism /na I I l I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Nihilism is a belief which rejects all political and religious authority and current ideas in favour of the individual. ● ni|hil|ist (nihilists ) N‑COUNT □ Why wasn't Weber a nihilist?
ni|hil|is|tic /na I I l I st I k/ ADJ If you describe someone as nihilistic , you mean they do not trust political and religious authority and place their faith in the individual. □ She exhibited none of the narcissistic and nihilistic tendencies of her peers.
nil /n I l/
1 NUM Nil means the same as zero. It is usually used to say what the score is in sports such as rugby or football. [BRIT ] □ They beat us one-nil in the final.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you say that something is nil , you mean that it does not exist at all. □ Their legal rights are virtually nil.
nim|ble /n I mb ə l/ (nimbler , nimblest )
1 ADJ Someone who is nimble is able to move their fingers, hands, or legs quickly and easily. □ Everything had been stitched by Molly's nimble fingers. □ [+ on ] Val, who was light and nimble on her feet, learnt to dance the tango. ● nim|bly ADV [ADV with v] □ Sabrina jumped nimbly out of the van.
2 ADJ If you say that someone has a nimble mind, you mean they are clever and can think very quickly. □ A nimble mind backed by a degree in economics gave him a firm grasp of financial matters.
nim|bus /n I mbəs/ N‑SING [usu N n] A nimbus is a large grey cloud that brings rain or snow. [TECHNICAL ] □ …layers of cold nimbus clouds.
nim|by /n I mbi/ also Nimby , NIMBY ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that someone has a nimby attitude, you are criticizing them because they do not want something such as a new road, housing estate, or prison built near to where they live. Nimby is an abbreviation for 'not in my backyard'. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …the usual nimby protests from local residents.
nine ◆◆◆ /na I n/ (nines )
1 NUM Nine is the number 9. □ We still sighted nine yachts. □ …nine hundred pounds.
2 nine times out of ten → see time
911 /na I n wʌ n wʌ n/ NUM 911 is the number that you call in the United States in order to contact the emergency services. □ The women made their first 911 call about a prowler at 12:46 a.m.