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nickname

nick·name

nickname

 
 
pronunciation:
nIk neIm
parts of speech:
noun, verb
features:
Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a name given to a person, place, or thing in place of the real name.
New York City's nickname is "The Big Apple."
definition 2: a familiar or short form of a proper name, such as "Bob" for "Robert."
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part of speech: verb
inflections: nicknames, nicknaming, nicknamed
definition: to give a nickname to.
The basketball star Wilt Chamberlain was nicknamed "Wilt the Stilt" because he was so tall.
similar words:
call, name
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derivation: nicknamer (n.)
Word History
"Nick-" in the word nickname comes from an eke, an early English term that means "another."