nook
Americannoun
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a corner, as in a room.
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any secluded or obscure corner.
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any small recess.
a breakfast nook.
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any remote or sheltered spot.
a shady nook that was ideal for a picnic.
noun
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a corner or narrow recess, as in a room
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a secluded or sheltered place; retreat
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nook
1250–1300; Middle English nok
Explanation
A nook is a cozy little corner or a small, safe area. A nook in the library can be a nice place to sit and read. If you have a "breakfast nook" in your kitchen, you know it's a space set back from the main room, maybe built into a corner or under a window, where you can sit at a small table. All nooks are small and sheltered in some way. You may have come across nook in the phrase "nook and cranny." This is often meant figuratively, as when you search every single nook and cranny in your whole house looking for your wallet.
Vocabulary lists containing nook
The BFG
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Mississippi Trial, 1955
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The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
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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.
You will see in the work some stationery from my dad’s bookshop, which was on Melrose: “Lenny’s Book Nook: Unusual, used books bought and sold.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025
The news release listed a "Reading Nook," a "Family Photo Opportunity Celebrating Reading," courtesy of Amazon, and an "AI-Powered Experience and Photo Opportunity," courtesy of Meta.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2025
However, a report found there had been a misleading implication that donations from book sales would go to the foundation, when instead the proceeds were paid to the family company Club Nook.
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024
“Bob’s passion for our institution and his dedication to Panther Athletics are both well documented, as well as his extensive resume of expertise in collegiate athletics,” UNI president Mark Nook said.
From Washington Times • Nov. 29, 2023
“The kitchen staff recently placed fresh food in the Book Nook Cafe.”
From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
