nickel
nickel Lexical Profile
nickel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A coin worth five cents in the United States and Canada.
"He searched his pockets for a quarter and a nickel so he could buy a soda from the vending machine."
A hard, silvery-white metallic chemical element (symbol Ni, atomic number 28), frequently used in alloys, batteries, and corrosion-resistant plating.
"The manufacturer utilized stainless steel containing a high percentage of nickel to ensure the surgical instruments would not rust."
• verb
To plate or coat (an object or metal surface) with nickel.
"The restorer carefully nickeled the antique stove's trim to return it to its original lustrous condition."
• Rhymes for nickel
Word Origin & Etymology
From the Swedish word 'nickel', coined by Axel Cronstedt in 1754, abstracted from German 'Kupfernickel' (copper demon), a miner's term for a copper-colored ore that deceptively yielded no copper. 'Nickel' was a pet form of Nikolaus, associated with goblins or mischievous sprites.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.