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nice definition

nice (nīs)

adjective nicer nic′er, nicest nic′·est

  1. difficult to please; fastidious; refined
  2. delicate; precise; discriminative; subtle a nice distinction
  3. calling for great care, accuracy, tact, etc., as in handling or discrimination a nice problem
    1. able to make fine or delicate distinctions; delicately skillful; finely discriminating
    2. minutely accurate, as an instrument
  5. having high standards of conduct; scrupulous
    1. agreeable; pleasant; delightful
    2. attractive; pretty
    3. courteous and considerate
    4. conforming to approved social standards; respectable
    5. in good taste
    6. good; excellent
  7. Obsolete
    1. ignorant; foolish
    2. wanton
    3. coy; shy

Etymology: ME, strange, lazy, foolish < OFr nice, nisce, stupid, foolish < L nescius, ignorant, not knowing < nescire, to be ignorant < ne-, not (see no) + scire, to know: see science

adverb nicer nic′er, nicest nic′·est

well, pleasingly, attractively, etc.: variously regarded as substandard, dialectal, or informal

Related Forms:

nice Idioms

make nice

Informal to try to be friendly or cooperative: often with with

nice and

Informal altogether, in a pleasing way likes his tea nice and hot
Nice definition

Nice (nēs)

seaport & resort in SE France: pop. 342,000

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

nice Synonyms

nice

modif.

  1. Approved

    likable, superior, admirable; see excellent.

  2. Behaving in a becoming manner

    pleasing, friendly, agreeable, winning, winsome, prepossessing, refined, cultured, amiable, delightful, charming, inviting, pleasant, cordial, courteous, ingratiating, considerate, kind, kindly, helpful, gracious, obliging, genial, gentle, simpático (Spanish), seemly, decorous, becoming, unassuming, unpresumptuous, modest, demure; see also friendly 1.

    Antonyms rude*, indecorous*, crude. *

  3. Involving a careful distinction

    delicate, minute, exacting, fastidious, finicky, finical, finicking, discerning, discriminating, fine, subtle, careful, precise, critical, distinguishing, trivial, hairsplitting; see also careful, detailed, particular 3.

    Antonyms careless*, broad*, sweeping. *

  4. Accurate

    correct, exact, right; see accurate 1. See syn. study at particular.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

nice Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • really: Some suggestions: do a really nice deed for your partner like, drawing a warm bath or cooking a nice meal.

Infinitive complement

  • hear: It would be nice to hear from anyone who was in my year.

Modifies a noun

  • guy: I'm a nice guy - I'm going to heaven, right?

Used with adjective complement

  • look: Dawn, your holiday home looks really nice, it will be nice to have somewhere to escape to for weekends away.
nice usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

nice quotes

There was a lad was born in Kyle, But what na day o' what na style. I doubt it's hardly worth the while To be sae nice wi' Robin.

-Burns, Robert

Nice guys finish last.

-Durocher, Leo

A change is always nice.

-Euripides

nice quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"nice." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/nice>

APA Style

nice. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/nice

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