Reading Theme:
Nickel: Definition, Usage & Key Differences (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：five-cent coin (nickel)
nickel
/ˈnɪk(ə)l/
n.
A small, hard coin used in the US and Canada, worth five cents.
five-cent coin
➕
/faɪv sɛnt kɔɪn/
n.
The common name for the coin worth five cents in the US and Canada.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From German 'Kupfernickel' (copper demon), as miners thought the ore contained copper but it didn't.
💡 Mnemonic
Think: Nickel fits in a pocket (coin) or in steel (metal), but never in a pickle.
📖 Example
I need just one more nickel to pay for my coffee.
I am short exactly five cents to complete the payment for my coffee.
🔗 Collocations
nickel and dime – to charge many small amounts; insignificant amounts of money
nickel bag – (slang, historical) a five-dollar bag of drugs
not worth a nickel – completely worthless
🔄 Synonyms
five-cent piece (n.) – Another formal term for the same coin.
coin (n.) – A general term for a flat piece of metal used as money.
change (n.) – Coins of low value collectively.
🚫 Antonyms
dollar bill (n.) – A paper note representing a much higher value than a nickel.
🌱 Derivatives
nickelodeon (n.) – Originally a theater charging five cents; now a children's TV network.
📖 Cultural Story
Named after Swedish chemist Axel Cronstedt (1751). The name comes from 'Kupfernickel', referring to a mischievous sprite ('Old Nick') because the ore looked like copper ore but yielded none.
Meaning 2：silvery metal (nickel)
nickel
/ˈnɪk(ə)l/
n.
A strong, silvery metal that doesn't rust easily, used in making stainless steel and batteries.
silvery metal
➕
/sɪlvəri ˈmɛtl/
n.
A lustrous, hard metallic element often used in alloys to prevent corrosion and in batteries.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
My phone's battery uses nickel to help it recharge efficiently.
The rechargeable battery in my mobile device incorporates this specific metal to enhance its performance.
🔗 Collocations
nickel plating – a thin coating of nickel applied to a metal object for protection or decoration
nickel alloy – a metal mixture containing nickel, such as stainless steel
nickel mine – a place where nickel ore is extracted from the earth
🔄 Synonyms
element (n.) – A fundamental chemical substance (Ni is the symbol for nickel).
metal (n.) – A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, and conductive.
ferronickel (n.) – An alloy of iron and nickel used in steelmaking.
🚫 Antonyms
plastic (n.) – A synthetic, non-metallic material.
🌱 Derivatives
nickeliferous (adj.) – Containing or yielding nickel.
Wordbook
Your data is saved in this browser