nub

or knub

[ nuhb ]

noun

1. the point, gist, or heart of something.
2. a knob or protuberance.
3. a lump or small piece:

   a nub of coal; a nub of pencil.

4. a small mass of fibers produced on a card, dyed brilliant colors, and introduced into yarn during the spinning process.

nub

/ nʌb /

noun

1. a small lump or protuberance
2. a small piece or chunk
3. the point or gist

   the nub of a story

4. a small fibrous knot in yarn

Derived Forms

• ˈnubbly, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nub¹

1585–95; < Low German, Middle Low German knubbe; knob

Word History and Origins

Origin of nub¹

C16: variant of knub, from Middle Low German knubbe knob

Example Sentences

At the end of our first post-vaccine dinner party, the tablecloth was stained, the candles were burned down to nubs, and the dog was licking up bits of rice pilaf that, at some point, fell to the floor.

From Washington Post

Once it is steamed, even the tough outer petals feature a little nub of tender flesh at the tip where they attach to the heart.

From Washington Post

Chemicals from food hit tiny nubs on our tongue called papillae that hold taste buds.

From Science News For Students

Those handy extending nubs, however, don’t play very nicely with wireless charging.

From Popular-Science

The nub of the argument is that surveillance capitalism’s target is human nature itself — with Zuboff calling out the “data business” playbook of “hidden extraction mechanisms” which she said are robbing us of the ability to fight back.

From TechCrunch

Crippling weight loss and the task of adjusting to life as a single mom nearly wore me to a nub.

From The Daily Beast

Or you could go whole hog like Nub Sweeney and just wear overalls.

From The Daily Beast

The nub of the whole matter is: The claims made for Sanatogen are unwarranted, misleading and fraudulent.

From Project Gutenberg

And, having drawn all possible satisfaction from the other's amazement, he sprang the nub of his joke with a grin.

From Project Gutenberg

In the flat center of each lock was a small keyhole and alongside of it a notched nub, the nub being sunk in a minute depression.

From Project Gutenberg

Only the red nub of it showed above the timber line across the lake, and the shadows lay inland a long way.

From Project Gutenberg

Halloway reflectively knocked the nub of ash from his pipe, and went on more slowly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crux
• upshot