nice

Pronunciation: /nʌɪs/

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Definition of nice

adjective

1giving pleasure or satisfaction; pleasant or attractive:we had a very nice time
(of a person) good-natured; kind:he’s a nicer man than Mark Joe had been very nice to her
ironic not good; unpleasant:that’s a nice way to come into my kitchen—no greeting!

2(especially of a difference) slight or subtle:there is a nice distinction between self-sacrifice and martyrdom
requiring careful consideration:a nice point

3 archaic fastidious; scrupulous.

Phrases

make nice (or nice-nice): North American informal be pleasant or polite to someone, typically in a hypocritical way: the seat next him was empty, so he wasn’t required to make nice with a stranger
nice and ——: satisfactorily in terms of the quality described:it’s nice and warm in here
nice one: British informal used to express approval: thunderous applause and cries of ‘Nice one!’
nice to meet you: a polite formula used on being introduced to someone.
nice work: British informal used to express approval of a task well done:‘You did a good job today—nice work, James.’
nice work if you can get it: informal used to express envy of what is perceived to be another person’s more favourable situation, which they seem to have attained with little effort: the princess was on her way to some lavish dinner—nice work if you can get it, I thought

Derivatives

niceish

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'stupid'): from Old French, from Latin nescius 'ignorant', from nescire 'not know'. Other early senses included 'coy, reserved', giving rise to 'fastidious, scrupulous': this led both to the sense 'fine, subtle' (regarded by some as the ‘correct’ sense), and to the main current senses

nice in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of nice in the US English dictionary

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Other

nice

adjective

Phrases

make nice (or nice-nice)

nice and ——

nice one

nice to meet you

nice work

nice work if you can get it

Derivatives

niceish

Origin:

nice in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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