nub

Plural: nubs

Noun

• A small lump, protuberance, or the central point of something.
• a small lump or protuberance
• a small piece
  • "a nub of coal"
• the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
  • "the nub of the story"
• The innermost section of a chrysalis in a silk cocoon.
• A small knob or knob.
• The essence or core of an issue, argument etc.
• The clitoris.
• A pointing stick.
• A passage of Shakespearean blank verse.
• Alternative spelling of noob.

Verb

• To hit the ball weakly.
• To push; to nudge.
• To beckon.
• To extemporize a passage of Shakespearean blank verse

Examples

• He can’t even make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? What a nub.
• He couldn’t quite grasp the NUB of his opponent’s Words With Friends strategy.
• What do you think is the nub of the problem?

Synonyms

center, centre, core, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meat, nitty-gritty, nubble, pith, stub, substance, sum, bowels, brass tacks, crux, deets, details, drift, gravamen, guts, heartstring, heartstrings, moral of the story, nub, nubbin, nuts and bolts, punctum saliens, quintessence, soul, spirit, stuff, tenor