nickel

noun

• 1 [mass noun] a silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 28. (Symbol: Ni)

Nickel occurs naturally in various minerals and the earth’s core is believed to consist largely of metallic iron and nickel. Its chief use is in alloys, especially with iron, to which it imparts strength and resistance to corrosion, and with copper for coinage

• 2North American a five-cent coin; five cents: a button the size of a nickel we will see gasoline prices go up about a nickel

verb (nickels, nickelling, nickelled; US nickels, nickeling, nickeled)

• coat with nickel: heavily nickelled iron castings