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

But civil discourse has been ground down to a useless nub at this point, and a presidential candidate can share crude jokes about his opponent with barely a blip in the news cycle.

From Salon

Its brain cavity, which is divided into segments, has revealed the ancestral “nub” of the specialist, segmented heads of modern insects, spiders and crabs that later evolved their various appendages, such as antennae, mouthparts and eyes.

From BBC

Its brain cavity, which is divided into segments, has revealed the ancestral “nub” of the specialist, segmented heads of modern insects, spiders and crabs that later evolved their various appendages, such as antennae, mouthparts and eyes.

From BBC

The nub of it is - the new UK government now knows it will be dealing with a new administration in Washington within six months, whatever happens.

From BBC

But the nub of the issue for him is “how” they produce this art, the range of artists they’re inviting in, the openness to new forms and collaborative modalities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crux
• upshot