Nicholas
Americannoun
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German Nikolaus von Cusa. of Cusa 1401–1464, German cardinal, mathematician, and philosopher.
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Grand Duke, 1856–1929, Russian general in World War I.
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Saint, flourished 4th century a.d., bishop in Asia Minor: patron saint of Russia; protector of children and prototype of the legendary Santa Claus.
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a male given name: from Greek words meaning “victory” and “people.”
noun
Usage
What is St. Nicholas Day? St. Nicholas Day is a Christian holiday—the feast day of Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas is best known as the basis of the legendary Santa Claus. As a bishop in Asia Minor around the 4th century c.e., he was known for his generosity and as a protector of children. He is the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants, and of Russia and Greece. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated by Catholics and members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, among other Christians. Celebration of St. Nicholas Day sometimes involves children laying out their shoes (or sometimes socks) on the night before in the hopes that treats are placed in them overnight (much like the tradition of Christmas stockings).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lead researcher Dr Nicholas Tiller explains: "They are designed to give very confident, very authoritative responses, and that conveys a sense of credibility, so the user assumes that it must know what it's talking about."
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
Nicholas Penaranda had three RBIs and Foss Bohlen threw 5 1/3 innings of hitless relief.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
His latest work, “Rasputin,” is a deeply researched examination of how Nicholas and Alexandra, faced with social unrest and the frail health of their only son, found solace in a charismatic peasant.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
On Substack recently, Nicholas Thompson, the CEO of the Atlantic, shared a writer’s account of using Claude to build a custom editing rubric while instructing the A.I.,
From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026
Nicholas had stopped by, too, on his weekly ritual, to eat Sunday rice.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
