Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

nubbin

American  
[nuhb-in] / ˈnʌb ɪn /

noun

  1. a small lump or stunted piece; stub.

  2. a small or imperfect ear of corn.

  3. an undeveloped fruit.


nubbin British  
/ ˈnʌbɪn /

noun

  1. something small or undeveloped, esp a fruit or ear of corn

"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

Etymology

Origin of nubbin

1685–95, perhaps nub + -in, variant of -ing 1

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.

See Examples For:

The charity said Knobble's nickname was due to a "knobbly nubbin" on top of his dorsal fin.

From BBC Oct. 26, 2023

Then continue, as “impossibly, without anyone moving him, he bent forward and climbed unsteadily onto his little nubbin legs. The empty sleeve of his puppet hole hung behind him like a tail.”

From Washington Post Jan. 11, 2023

This month, 192 giant lasers blasted a small cylinder about the size of a pencil eraser that contained a frozen nubbin of hydrogen encased in diamond.

From New York Times Dec. 13, 2022

When it healed, I could feel a small nubbin of metal.

From The New Yorker Aug. 16, 2015

“Here, poor nubbin, now we will just lead you out of doors again where you belong—” Before she could say more, a terrible growling sound filled the room.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training