nugget

[ nuhg-it ]

/ ˈnʌg ɪt /

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See synonyms for nugget on Thesaurus.com

noun

a lump of something, as of precious metal.

a lump of native gold.

anything of great value, significance, or the like: nuggets of wisdom.

a bite-size piece of chicken, fish, etc., usually batter-fried.

Welding. (in a spot-weld) the metal fused.

Australian.

a powerful, heavy animal.
a strong, thickset man.

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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of nugget

1850–55; perhaps diminutive of obsolete nug small piece, variant of nog²; see -et

OTHER WORDS FROM nugget

nug·get·y, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use nugget in a sentence

But whether these gussied-up chicken nuggets helps boost sales, foot traffic or market share is almost beside the point.
Domino’s Fried-Chicken Pizza Means We’ve Hit Peak Food Trolling|Daniel Gross|April 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These two speeches swiping at Cheney are unlikely to be the only colorful nuggets unearthed.
Rand Paul’s Michael Moore Moment|Michelle Cottle|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jason Collins and the Brooklyn Nets play in Portland on Wednesday and then fly to Denver to face the Nuggets on Thursday night.
Lobbyist Has An Indecent Proposal for Gays in the NFL|Ben Jacobs|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I snuck into the room without anybody seeing me, and I ate the chicken nuggets.
Can Vegetarians Eat In-Vitro Meat? The Debate Rages.|Nico Hines|August 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST

We talked to entomologist Louis Sorkin about the best ways to prepare the little protein nuggets.
Can You Eat Cicadas? Yes, and Here’s How|Brian Ries|May 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Roly was delighted to see two little yellow nuggets appear, besides many small flakes and grains.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
Among the little gold nuggets were discovered two larger ones of pure native copper.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
I wish we had sent those nuggets off with the others this morning.
The Three Partners|Bret Harte
In some places the lead is found in small nuggets entirely pure.
Guatemala, the country of the future|Charles M. Pepper
The miners used to throw a shower of money or nuggets at the feet of such little favorites as we throw flowers now.
Stories of California|Ella M. Sexton

British Dictionary definitions for nugget (1 of 2)

nugget

/ (ˈnʌɡɪt) /

noun

a small piece or lump, esp of gold in its natural state

something small but valuable or excellent

Word Origin for nugget

C19: origin unknown

British Dictionary definitions for nugget (2 of 2)

Nugget

/ (ˈnʌɡɪt) NZ /

noun

trademark shoe polish

verb

(tr; sometimes not capital) informal to shine (shoes)

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

nugget

Origin of nugget

OTHER WORDS FROM nugget

Words related to nugget

How to use nugget in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nugget (1 of 2)

Word Origin for nugget

British Dictionary definitions for nugget (2 of 2)