Dictionary.com

nival

[ nahy-vuhl ]
/ ˈnaɪ vəl /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for nival on Thesaurus.com
adjective
of or growing in snow: nival flora.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
candystring
candyfloss
candypuff
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of nival

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin nivālis “of, belonging to snow; covered with snow; snowy,” equivalent to niv- (stem of nix ) “snow” + -ālis -al1;see origin at snow

Words nearby nival

nitty-gritty, nitwit, Niue, Niuean, Niu Tireni, nival, nivation, Niven, niveous, Nivernais, Nivkh
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to nival

stormy, wintry, fluffy, niveous, pure, snowlike, soft, spotless, white

British Dictionary definitions for nival

nival
/ (ˈnaɪvəl) /
adjective
of or growing in or under snow

Word Origin for nival

C17: from Latin nivālis, from nix snow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK