Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Full of entanglements or imperfections; lumpy: as, dirty, nubby cotton.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective knobbly

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective of textiles; having a rough surface

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word nubby.

Examples

  • "I believe it looks kind of nubby," encouraged the Angel, backing away, with her face all screwed into a twist in an effort to intensify her vision.

    Freckles 1904

  • "I believe it looks kind of nubby," encouraged the Angel, backing away, with her face all screwed into a twist in an effort to intensify her vision.

    Freckles Gene Stratton-Porter 1893

  • None are of my family; I don't think June knows where I keep the nubby blue cloth albums that chronicle my childhood.

    Pieces Michael Hartford 2011

  • A salmon-colored sweatshirt for men treated to look faded and nubby jackets were meant to evoke Los Angeles' laid-back, lived-in vibe.

    Resort Wear from Calvin Klein, Jason Wu and Marc by Marc Jacobs Ray A. Smith 2011

  • None are of my family; I don't think June knows where I keep the nubby blue cloth albums that chronicle my childhood.

    Pieces Michael Hartford 2011

  • I was wearing running shoes, a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a blue, nubby fleece, and when I heard about my luggage, I began to sob uncontrollably--at the gate, and when I sat down in the plane and stared out at the bleak London sky, wiping my nose on my sleeve.

    The Reporter's New Clothes Helen Coster 2011

  • A kaftan that appeared to have been made from a starched white menswear shirt and a nubby, pointy-hooded robe-dress had a rugged Berber feel, while a quilted vest seemed to look to the Mongolian highlands for inspiration.

    Luxury Is A La Mode At Celine, Galliano, Givenchy & Akris (PHOTOS) The Huffington Post News Team 2010

  • Now available online, the Google Art reproduction makes it possible to see the faintest trace of white paint Whistler used to make his subject's eyes glisten, as well as the nubby, gridlike texture of the canvas underneath.

    National Treasures: Google Art Project unlocks riches of world's galleries Philip Kennicott 2011

  • In no time it was nude, like a plucked chicken, its skin nubby and goose-pimply, as though without its feathers it had caught a chill.

    Slice Of Cherry Dia Reeves 2011

  • Now available online, the Google Art reproduction makes it possible to see the faintest trace of white paint Whistler used to make his subject's eyes glisten, as well as the nubby, gridlike texture of the canvas underneath.

    National Treasures: Google Art Project unlocks riches of world's galleries Philip Kennicott 2011

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.