nife

/ ˈnaɪfɪ; naɪf /

noun

1. the earth's core, thought to be composed of nickel and iron

Word History and Origins

Origin of nife¹

C20: from the chemical symbols Ni (nickel) and Fe (iron)

Example Sentences

And during dinner at my house, a ka-nife could be just a nife.

From Time

I giv the tabel a rap with my hickory, and the Kernel stratened up jest like openin a jack nife, and ses he, "Was I asleep, Majer?"

From Project Gutenberg

So I sot down and took out my jack nife, and went to work takin it all apart.

From Project Gutenberg

"Lot on your nife—I mean not on your life!" spluttered Harry.

From Project Gutenberg

Incasing Nife is a shell of Sima.

From Time Magazine Archive

More About Nife

What is nife?

Nife is an alloy that makes up the core of the Earth.

Nife is thought to be an alloy of nickel, whose chemical symbol is Ni, and iron, whose chemical symbol is Fe. The alloy is molten and only settles as it escapes the core. Nife is thought to make up a majority of the core of the earth and includes elements such as sulfur and oxygen.

Nife is a scientific and engineering term that isn’t commonly used in casual conversation. Instead one of the most casual uses of nife is as a misspelling of knife.

Nife is also spelled NiFe.

Example: Scientists are still trying to understand the nife that makes up the earth’s core.

Where does nife come from?

The first records of the term nIfe come from around 1909. It combines the chemical symbols Ni, for nickel, and Fe, for iron.

Nife and other, similar alloys have magnetic properties that have a variety of uses. They have even been used as batteries in some cases. Nife alloys are used in transformers, computer memory, inductors, and precision measuring tools because it doesn’t expand when exposed to cold temperatures.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to nife?

• NiFe (alternative spelling)

What are some words that share a root or word element with nife?

• Ni
• Fe

What are some words that often get used in discussing nife?

• core
• Earth
• iron
• nickel

What are some words nife may be commonly confused with?

• knife

How is nife used in real life?

Nife is almost always used in scientific discussions, but often when discussing the Earth’s core.

At the very heart of Earth is a sphere of solid iron and nickel ( NiFe) the pressure is so high that the metal remains solid and does not melt.

Outside this solid core is a layer of molten iron, steadily flowing in the opposite direction of the rotation of the Earth. pic.twitter.com/jEhpWJpO6b

— Stelio Kontos (@ImStelio_Kontos) December 21, 2021

135/a layer of molten NiFe surrounds the inner core, less squished so it stays fluid, an ocean of molten metal thousands of km underfoot

— Aido (@aeddub) July 2, 2011

Try using nife!

True or False?

Nife is an alloy made up of mostly sodium  and iron.