2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you refer to someone or something as noxious , you mean that they are extremely unpleasant. [FORMAL ] □ …the heavy, noxious smell of burning sugar, butter, fats, and flour. □ Their behaviour was noxious.
noz|zle /nɒ z ə l/ (nozzles ) N‑COUNT The nozzle of a hose or pipe is a narrow piece fitted to the end to control the flow of liquid or gas. □ If he put his finger over the nozzle, he could produce a forceful spray.
nr In addresses, nr is used as a written abbreviation for near . [BRIT ] □ Brackhurst Agricultural College, nr Southwell, Notts.
-n't /- ə nt/ → see not
nth /e nθ/ ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer to the most recent item in a series of things as the nth item, you are emphasizing the number of times something has happened. [EMPHASIS ] □ The story was raised with me for the nth time two days before the article appeared.
nu|ance /njuː ɑːns, [AM ] nuː -/ (nuances ) N‑VAR A nuance is a small difference in sound, feeling, appearance, or meaning. □ Do you understand the nuances of British humour?
nub /nʌ b/ N‑SING The nub of a situation, problem, or argument is the central and most basic part of it. □ [+ of ] That, I think, is the nub of the problem. □ [+ of ] Here we reach the nub of the argument.
nu|bile /njuː ba I l, [AM ] nuː b I l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A nubile woman is young, physically mature, and sexually attractive. □ What is this current television obsession with older men and nubile young women?
nu|clear ◆◆◇ /njuː kliə r , [AM ] nuː k-/
1 ADJ [ADJ n] Nuclear means relating to the nuclei of atoms, or to the energy released when these nuclei are split or combined. □ …a nuclear power station. □ …nuclear energy. □ …nuclear physics.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Nuclear means relating to weapons that explode by using the energy released when the nuclei of atoms are split or combined. □ They rejected a demand for the removal of all nuclear weapons from U.K. soil. □ …nuclear testing.
nu |clear ca |pa|bi l|ity (nuclear capabilities ) N‑VAR If a country has nuclear capability , it is able to produce nuclear power and usually nuclear weapons.
nu |clear fa mi|ly (nuclear families ) N‑COUNT A nuclear family is a family unit that consists of father, mother, and children.
nu clear-free ADJ [usu ADJ n] A nuclear-free place is a place where nuclear energy or nuclear weapons are forbidden. □ Strathclyde council has declared itself a nuclear-free zone.
nu |clear fu el (nuclear fuels ) N‑VAR Nuclear fuel is fuel that provides nuclear energy, for example in power stations.
nu |clear re|a c|tor (nuclear reactors ) N‑COUNT A nuclear reactor is a machine which is used to produce nuclear energy or the place where this machine and other related machinery and equipment is kept. □ They shut down the nuclear reactor for safety reasons.
nu |clear wi n|ter N‑VAR [oft a N ] Nuclear winter refers to the possible effects on the environment of a war in which large numbers of nuclear weapons are used. It is thought that there would be very low temperatures and very little light during a nuclear winter.
nu|cleic acid /njuːkle I I k æ s I d, [AM ] nuː -/ (nucleic acids ) N‑VAR Nucleic acids are complex chemical substances, such as DNA, which are found in living cells. [TECHNICAL ]
nu|cleus /njuː kliəs, [AM ] nuː -/ (nuclei /njuː klia I , [AM ] nuː -/)
1 N‑COUNT The nucleus of an atom or cell is the central part of it. □ [+ of ] Neutrons and protons are bound together in the nucleus of an atom.
2 N‑COUNT The nucleus of a group of people or things is the small number of members which form the most important part of the group. □ [+ of ] A small group of shareholders formed the nucleus of a new management team.
nude /njuː d, [AM ] nuː d/ (nudes )
1 ADJ [ADJ n, ADJ after v, v-link ADJ ] A nude person is not wearing any clothes. □ The occasional nude bather comes here. □ She turned down £1.2 million to pose nude in the magazine. ● PHRASE If you do something in the nude , you are not wearing any clothes. If you paint or draw someone in the nude , they are not wearing any clothes. □ Sleeping in the nude, if it suits you, is not a bad idea.
2 N‑COUNT A nude is a picture or statue of a person who is not wearing any clothes. A nude is also a person in a picture who is not wearing any clothes. □ He was one of Australia's most distinguished artists, renowned for his portraits, landscapes and nudes.
nudge /nʌ dʒ/ (nudges , nudging , nudged )
1 VERB If you nudge someone, you push them gently, usually with your elbow, in order to draw their attention to something. □ [V n] I nudged Stan and pointed again. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Nudge is also a noun. □ She slipped her arm under his and gave him a nudge.
2 VERB If you nudge someone or something into a place or position, you gently push them there. □ [V n prep/adv] Edna Swinson nudged him into the sitting room. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Nudge is also a noun. □ McKinnon gave the wheel another slight nudge.
3 VERB If you nudge someone into doing something, you gently persuade them to do it. □ [V n + into ] Bit by bit, Bob had nudged Fritz into selling his controlling interest. □ [V n + towards ] Foreigners must use their power to nudge the country towards greater tolerance. □ [V n to-inf] British tour companies are nudging clients to travel further afield. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Nudge is also a noun. □ I had a feeling that the challenge appealed to him. All he needed was a nudge.