1
: knob, lump
2
: nubbin
3
: gist, point
the nub of the problem

Examples of nub in a Sentence

The dog chewed his bone down to a nub. The shoes have little nubs on the bottom that prevent you from slipping.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But as civility gets ground down to a nub by increasingly racist and bigoted behavior, from Trump down, there have to be consequences for actions. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024 One foot-end, the simple Point-Foot, takes the form of a rounded rubberized nub. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2024 Some bees nest in the stems of shrubs and perennials, so resist the urge to chop them down to nubs. 5. Kristin Hostetter, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024 There’s a single four-direction nub on the backside to control the menu system. Ben Sin, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nub 

Word History

Etymology

alteration of English dialect knub, probably from Low German knubbe

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nub was in 1696

Dictionary Entries Near nub

Cite this Entry

“Nub.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nub. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nub

noun
1
2
: the main point of a matter
the nub of the story

More from Merriam-Webster on nub

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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