Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A small corner, alcove, or recess, especially one in a large room.
- n. A hidden or secluded spot.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A corner.
- n. A narrow place formed by an angle in bodies or between bodies; a recess; a secluded retreat.
- To betake one's self to a recess or corner; ensconce one's self.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A narrow place formed by an angle in bodies or between bodies; a corner; a recess; a secluded retreat.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a sheltered and secluded place
- n. an interior angle formed by two meeting walls
Etymologies
- From Middle English noke, nok ("nook, corner, angle"), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots neuk, nuk ("corner, angle of a square, angular object"). Perhaps from Old English hnoc, hnocc ("hook, angle"), from Proto-Germanic *hnukkaz, *hnukkô (“a bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *kneug- (“to turn, press”), from Proto-Indo-European *ken- (“to pinch, press, bend”). If so, then also related to Scots nok ("small hook"), Norwegian dialectal nok, nokke ("hook, angle, bent object"), Danish nokke ("hook"), Swedish nocke ("hook"), Faroese nokki ("crook"), Icelandic hnokki ("hook"), Dutch nok ("ridge"), Low German Nocke ("tip"), Old Norse hnúka ("to bend, crouch"), Old English ġehnycned ("drawn, pinched, wrinkled"). (Wiktionary)
- Middle English nok, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialectal nōk, hook. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“The top of the nook is arched, and the back of the nook is curved.”
“Finally, an upstairs nook is kept cozy with a wood stove that has the ability to warm the entire upper level.”
Old Dairy Barn Converted Into an Eco Home Filled With Rustic Charm | Inhabitat
“View 3 showing sink area and wooden screen, separating the dining nook from the rest of the kitchen.”
“But what a cruel change it would have been for the beautiful ferns, from their enchanted mountain nook with the wood-pigeons cooing in the trees above them and the little green parroquets flashing past their waving, plume-like tufts, to a cold, raw Christmas morning in smoky”
“Barnes & Noble unveils new e-reader: the 'nook' - Barnes & Noble Inc. unveiled a new electronic-book reader Tuesday that will compete with Amazon. com's Kindle in a still-small arena where some see bookselling's future.”
“Originally posted at Beyond Binary Barnes & Noble unveils new e-reader: the 'nook' - Barnes & Noble Inc.”
“It was a real example of why getting the nook was a smart idea for me.”
“The nook was a busy spot because my mom and the bird people were going back and forth, taking the eagle cage outside to the backyard to get ready for the great bird launch.”
“I did a lot of research before I choose, and I think the nook is the best of the bunch.”
“In another nook was a little divan or cosy corner.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘nook’.
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EN - archaic words
abide, abjure, abroad, adamant, afield, aforetime, aghast, anon, apace, argent, assuage, aught and 328 more...
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HKI
hearth, hearthstone, fireside, snug, nest, dwell, nido, plush, fireplace, glow, ember, nook and 8 more...
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the indelible ink of personality
nefarious, mischievious, bawdy, intense, blunt, steadfast, succulent, edible, nature, creature, truth, touch and 28 more...
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thing
apron, lard, clove, camphor, alfalfa, amber, caraway, juniper, kohl, lute, shale, glyph and 142 more...
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Fun Words
Words that are fun to say....
gobbledygook, jings, crivens, hullabaloo, wheech, brouhaha, pizzazz, harum-scarum, namby-pamby, pussyfoot, frippery, pitter-patter and 333 more...
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Buttery
Words that make me feel cozy
Feather, Mug, Knit, Socks, Snug, Soft, Butter, Nugget, Noodle, Curl, Billow, Lounge and 315 more...
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GRE Words
abjure, unswear, state, rescission, indemnification, ab, reny, abnegate, vitiated, vitiate, adumbrated, abash and 378 more...
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nominative case collection
wine stopper, pyre, roster, hamper, moleskin, elastic, pinnacle, facsimile, nook, plonk, contortionist, dismay and 342 more...
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vozcelik's Words
cranny, tummy, nook, sinister, cajole, frugal, chafe, wimp, booger, patriarchy, indifference, mire and 162 more...
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stpeter's Words
abase, abasement, abashed, abdicate, aberrant, abeyance, abhor, abhorrent, abide, abject, ablation, abnegation and 3536 more...
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Some Words I Love to Use
arcology, strumpet, crux, confected, pedant, bluestocking, cogitation, incensed, lovecraftian, cygnet, dactyl, adytum and 539 more...
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wordsmith III: revenge of wordie
sedimentary, igneous, segment, surfeit, unctuous, magma, garble, ransack, concubine, coincide, metamorphic, clastic and 208 more...
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cat 2012
mala fide, trafficking, impoverished, atrocity, divulge, personify, audacity, resurrect, dubious, bloated, sovereign, rein and 123 more...
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Next!
salvific, redemptive, salvic, roil, changeling, barrow, burro, sow, swath, haymow, shock, sheaves and 190 more...
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The Measure of Man
Unusual, arcane, or obscure units of measure
cable, cabot, bushel, cade, caliper, callipic cycle, metonic cycle, cunit, air watt, ale gallon, allergy unit, amber and 228 more...
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fruityfed's Words
noodle, nook, nosegay, notch, noxious, nozzle, nuance, nub, nubile, null, numskull
Tweets
Looking for tweets for nook.
mollusque Did John Noyes have a nook in Oneida? Feb 19, 2010
oroboros "Nook" contains two antonyms. Feb 19, 2010
sonofgroucho See also "cranny". Nov 24, 2007
reesetee Nope. I swear, it's completely true. :-) Nov 24, 2007
sonofgroucho You are so wise, reesetee. Unless, of course, this is totally fabricated.... Nov 24, 2007
reesetee Traditionally, a unit of land area in northern England. One nook originally equaled 1/2 virgate; a virgate (often called a yardland in the north) was about 30 acres in southern England but measured closer to 40 acres in the north. This meant that a nook equaled 20 acres (about 8.094 hectares). Nov 6, 2007