Nuance meaning of word

1

: a subtle distinction or variation

Nuances of flavor and fragrance cannot be described accurately …—Scott Seegers

… these terms have certain nuances of meaning …—Ben F. Nelms

2

: a subtle quality : nicety

… the nuances of an individual’s voice …—Michael Swaine

3

: sensibility to, awareness of, or ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value)

… a performance of remarkable pliability and nuance.—Irvine Kolodin

Did you know?

The history of nuance starts in Latin with the noun nūbēs, meaning «cloud.» Nūbēs floated into Middle French as nue, also meaning “cloud,” and nue gave rise to nuer, meaning “to make shades of color.” Nuer in turn produced nuance, which in Middle French meant “shade of color.” English borrowed nuance from French, with the meaning “a subtle distinction or variation,” in the late 18th century. That use persists today. Additionally, nuance is sometimes used in a specific musical sense, designating a subtle, expressive variation in a musical performance (such as in tempo, dynamic intensity, or timbre) that is not indicated in the score.

Did you know?

Although nuance is defined as «a subtle distinction or variation,» the adjective subtle is frequently seen modifying the noun:

Ms. Fyfield is remarkably thorough in her psychological profiles, giving subtle nuances to characters who are mere passers-by in this psychodrama.

Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review, 27 Aug. 1989

Still, the beloved diva sustained exquisite control of her vast vocal resources, enriching line after line with gleaming tone and subtle nuance.

Martin Bernheimer, The Financial Times, 15 Nov. 2016

Since the definition of nuance already connotes subtlety—we don’t speak of blatant or obvious nuances—some might regard the use of subtle as a modifier here to be redundant. But the fact of its frequent use is an indication that the connotation of subtlety in nuance might itself be too subtle to be picked up by many English speakers.

Example Sentences

Between the lines of lexicographical nuance and quotation, Johnson was paying old debts and seeking out wisdom about himself and his adopted city, as well as compiling perhaps the greatest commonplace book in the history of mankind.


—Andrew O’Hagan, New York Review, 27 Apr. 2006


In every silky statement from General Musharraf about the need for a short—in other words: limited—war, and in every nuance of the Pakistani official posture, I was sure I detected the local version of Schadenfreude.


—Christopher Hitchens, Vanity Fair, January 2002


To La Farge, eccentricity meant convention; a mind really eccentric never betrayed it. True eccentricity was a tone—a shade—a nuance—and the finer the tone, the truer the eccentricity.


—Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907



He listened to the subtle nuances in the song.



a poem of little depth and nuance

Recent Examples on the Web

Many doctors don’t know enough about the nuances of migraine disorders, said Dr. Frederick Godley, an ear, nose and throat specialist and president of the Association of Migraine Disorders.


—Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023




Cheryl Bader, an associate clinical professor of law at Fordham University, told ABC News that such a move is common in white collar criminal investigations that involve looking at delicate nuances in the state law and require more time.


—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2023




That was a cleverly conceptual affair with less focus on the nuances of Weill’s musical interpretation.


—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023




Some of the best television shows are about whip-smart operators and the political nuances of their professional worlds.


—Joshua Alston, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023




And this may be a kind of starting point for collecting data on the nuances of customs and business culture in different countries.


—Alexander Konovalov, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023




State laws can be lacking in addressing the nuances of parental relationships and the right to procreate, as the Heidemann case appears to suggest.


—Christine Hauser, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Mar. 2023




That latter phenomenon is where fashion really excels: finding the nuance in something and amplifying it.


—Rachel Tashjian, Harper’s BAZAAR, 6 Mar. 2023




Kurniawan’s novel provides nuance to what might just look, from the outside, like useless performances of aggression.


—Elise Hannum, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2023


See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘nuance.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, shade of color, from nuer to make shades of color, from nue cloud, from Latin nubes; perhaps akin to Welsh nudd mist

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of nuance was
in 1781

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Dictionary Entries Near nuance

Cite this Entry

“Nuance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nuance. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

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Merriam-Webster unabridged

Источник

nu·ance

 (no͞o′äns′, nyo͞o′-, no͞o-äns′, nyo͞o-)

n.

1. A subtle or slight degree of difference, as in meaning, feeling, or tone; a gradation.

2. Expression or appreciation of subtle shades of meaning, feeling, or tone: a rich artistic performance, full of nuance.

tr.v. nu·anced, nu·anc·ing, nu·anc·es

To treat or consider with nuance; give nuances to: new information that nuanced their understanding of the situation.

[French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin *nūba, from Latin nūbēs.]

nu′anced adj.

Synonyms: nuance, gradation, shade
These nouns denote a slight variation or differentiation between nearly identical entities: sensitive to delicate nuances of style; gradations of feeling from infatuation to deep affection; subtle shades of meaning.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

nuance

(njuːˈɑːns; ˈnjuːɑːns)

n

a subtle difference in colour, meaning, tone, etc; a shade or graduation

vb (tr; passive)

to give subtle differences to: carefully nuanced words.

[C18: from French, from nuer to show light and shade, ultimately from Latin nūbēs a cloud]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

nu•ance

(ˈnu ɑns, ˈnyu-, nuˈɑns, nyu-)

n.

1. a subtle difference or distinction, as in meaning.

2. a slight variation in color or tone.

[1775–85; < French: shade, hue]

nu′anced, adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun 1. nuance — a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude; «without understanding the finer nuances you can’t enjoy the humor»; «don’t argue about shades of meaning»

meaning, signification, import, significance — the message that is intended or expressed or signified; «what is the meaning of this sentence»; «the significance of a red traffic light»; «the signification of Chinese characters»; «the import of his announcement was ambiguous»

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

nuance

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

nuance

noun

A slight variation between nearly identical entities:

The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

nuance

[ˈnjuːɑ̃ːns] N → matiz m

Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

nuance

[ˈnjuːɑːns ˈnuːɑːns] n → nuance f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

nuance

n → Nuance f; (of colour also) → Schattierung f; nuances of colour (Brit) or color (US) → Farbnuancen pl

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Источник

нюанс, оттенок

существительное

- нюанс, оттенок

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

the painting’s delicate nuances of color, tone, and texture — тончайшие нюансы цвета, тона и текстуры этой картины  
fine / subtle nuance — тонкий оттенок  
bitter nuance — горьковатый оттенок  
fruity nuance — фруктовый оттенок  
herbaceous nuance — травянистый оттенок  
jasmine-like nuance — оттенок жасмина  
leathery nuance — оттенок кожи  
ambery nuance — амбровый оттенок  
balsamic nuance — бальзамический оттенок  
dry nuance — сухой оттенок  
fresh nuance — оттенок свежести  

Примеры с переводом

Without understanding the finer nuances you can’t enjoy the humor. 

Без понимания более тонких нюансов вы не получите удовольствия от юмора.

He listened to the subtle nuances in the song. 

Он вслушался в едва различимые полутона песни.

He was aware of every nuance in her voice. 

Он чувствовал каждый оттенок её голоса.

Формы слова

noun
ед. ч.(singular): nuance
мн. ч.(plural): nuances

Источник

  • 1
    nuance fr.

    nuance fr. noun нюанс, оттенок

    Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > nuance fr.

  • 2
    nuance

    Персональный Сократ > nuance

  • 3
    nuance

    n нюанс, оттенок

    Синонимический ряд:

    1. colouration (noun) brilliance; cast; colouration; hue; intensity; tint; tone

    2. subtlety (noun) dash; gradation; hint; shade; subtlety; suggestion; suspicion; tinge; touch; trace

    English-Russian base dictionary > nuance

  • 4
    nuance

    1. нюанс

    нюанс
    Средство архитектурной композиции, заключающееся в сочетании элементов архитектурной формы, имеющих незначительное различие внешних характеристик
    [Терминологический словарь по строительству на 12 языках (ВНИИИС Госстроя СССР)]

    Тематики

    • архитектура, основные понятия

    EN

    • nuance

    DE

    • Nuance

    FR

    • nuance

    Англо-русский словарь нормативно-технической терминологии > nuance

  • 5
    nuance

    Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > nuance

  • 6
    nuance

    нюанс
    имя существительное:

    Англо-русский синонимический словарь > nuance

  • 7
    nuance

    [‘njuːɑːn(t)s]

    нюанс, оттенок

    fine / subtle nuance — тонкий оттенок

    Syn:

    Англо-русский современный словарь > nuance

  • 8
    nuance

    [nju:ˈɑ:ns]

    nuance фр. нюанс, оттенок

    English-Russian short dictionary > nuance

  • 9
    nuance

    [ʹnju:ɑ:ns]

    нюанс, оттенок

    НБАРС > nuance

  • 10
    nuance

    Англо-русский технический словарь > nuance

  • 11
    nuance

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > nuance

  • 12
    nuance

    [njʊ(:)`ɑːns]

    нюанс, оттенок

    Англо-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > nuance

  • 13
    nuance

    Politics english-russian dictionary > nuance

  • 14
    nuance

    fr.

    noun

    нюанс, оттенок

    * * *

    (n) нюанс; оттенок

    * * *

    нюанс, оттенок

    * * *

    [nu·ance || nuː’ɑns /njuː’ɑːns]
    нюанс, оттенок

    * * *

    нюанс

    оттенок

    Новый англо-русский словарь > nuance

  • 15
    nuance

    English-Russian dictionary of technical terms > nuance

  • 16
    nuance

    English-Russian smart dictionary > nuance

  • 17
    nuance

    Англо-русский словарь по рекламе > nuance

  • 18
    nuance

    English-Russian architecture dictionary > nuance

  • 19
    nuance

    Англо-русский строительный словарь > nuance

  • 20
    accompanying cultural nuance

    Универсальный англо-русский словарь > accompanying cultural nuance

Страницы

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См. также в других словарях:

  • nuance — [ nɥɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1380; de nuer vx « assortir », de nue 1 ♦ Chacun des degrés par lesquels peut passer une même couleur. ⇒ tonalité. Toutes les nuances de bleu. ⇒ gamme. « Le regard moderne sait voir la gamme infinie des nuances » (Maupassant). 2 …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • nuancé — nuance [ nɥɑ̃s ] n. f. • 1380; de nuer vx « assortir », de nue 1 ♦ Chacun des degrés par lesquels peut passer une même couleur. ⇒ tonalité. Toutes les nuances de bleu. ⇒ gamme. « Le regard moderne sait voir la gamme infinie des nuances »… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Nuance — Sf Abstufung, feiner Unterschied erw. fremd. Erkennbar fremd (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus frz. nuance, Abstraktum zu frz. nuer abschattieren (zu l. nūbēs Wolke ). Verb: nuancieren.    Ebenso nndl. nuance, ne. nuance, nfrz. nuance, nschw.… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • Nuance — is a small or subtle distinction. It can also refer to the following: Nuance Communications, the name of a company that sells voice and productivity software solutions. Nuance (band), the name of a 1980s dance music group. Nuance (NUcleus and… …   Wikipedia

  • nuancé — nuancé, ée (nu an sé, sée) part. passé de nuancer. Où les couleurs sont assorties. •   La description des couleurs sera courte ; c est un noir à peine nuancé de quelques reflets violets sur tout le corps, BUFF. Oiseaux, t. XII, p. 90. •   Le… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d’Émile Littré

  • Nuance — »Abstufung, feiner Übergang; ‹Ab›tönung, Ton; Schimmer, Spur, Kleinigkeit«: Das Fremdwort wurde im 18. Jh. aus gleichbed. frz. nuance entlehnt. Dies gehört vermutlich zu frz. nue (< vlat. *nuba = klass. lat. nubes) »Wolke« oder zu dem davon… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • nuance — Nuance. s. f. Meslange, assortiment de couleurs nuées. Belle nuance. cette nuance est rude …   Dictionnaire de l’Académie française

  • nuance — (n.) 1781, from Fr. nuance slight difference, shade of color (17c.), from nuer to shade, from nue cloud, from Gallo Romance *nuba, from L. nubes a cloud, mist, vapor, from PIE *sneudh fog (Cf. Avestan snaoda clouds, L. obnubere …   Etymology dictionary

  • nuance — |nìuánce| s. f. Cada uma das diferentes gradações que pode ter uma cor entre o seu claro e o escuro, e, figuradamente, cada uma das diferentes fases ou aspectos de alguma coisa, por tênue que seja a diferença entre eles.   ‣ Etimologia: francês… …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • Nuance — Nu ance , n. [F.] 1. A shade of difference; a delicate gradation. [1913 Webster] 2. A small difference in meaning, significance, or expression. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nuance — (franz., spr. āngße), Abstufung, Abschattung, zunächst in bezug auf den leisen, allmählichen Übergang von Farben und Farbenschattierungen ineinander; dann verallgemeinert auch von Begriffen; besonderer seiner Zug (Geste etc.) im Spiel oder im Ton …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

Источник

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from French nuance (“nuance, shade, hue”).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈnjuː.ɑːns/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈnuː.ɑːns/

Noun[edit]

nuance (countable and uncountable, plural nuances)

  1. A minor distinction.

    hidden nuances

  2. Subtlety or fine detail.
    Understanding the basics is easy, but appreciating the nuances takes years.
    • 1901: Alpheus Spring Packard, Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution
      …the richer our collections become, the more numerous are the proofs that all is more or less shaded (nuance), that the remarkable differences become obliterated…

    • 2016, Tim Carvell; Josh Gondelman; Dan Gurewitch; Jeff Maurer; Ben Silva; Will Tracy; Jill Twiss; Seena Vali; Julie Weiner, “Encryption”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 5, HBO, Warner Bros. Television:

      It’s a miracle Lindsey Graham has met the concept of nuance. And this is the man who once warned “the world is literally about to blow up.” So you’re not dealing with someone who likes to dabble with grey areas.

Derived terms[edit]

  • nuanced

Translations[edit]

minor distinction

  • Arabic: please add this translation if you can
  • Armenian: նրբերանգ (hy) (nrberang), նյուանս (hy) (nyuans)
  • Azerbaijani: çalar
  • Belarusian: нюа́нс m (njuáns), адце́нне n (adcjénnje)
  • Bulgarian: нюа́нс (bg) m (njuáns), отте́нък (bg) m (otténǎk)
  • Catalan: matís (ca) m
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: please add this translation if you can
  • Czech: jemný rozdíl m, nuance f
  • Danish: nuance c
  • Dutch: nuance (nl) c
  • Esperanto: nuanco
  • French: nuance (fr) f
  • German: Nuance (de) f
  • Greek: υπαινιγμός (el) m (ypainigmós), υπονοούμενο (el) n (yponooúmeno)
    • Ancient: νύξις (el) f (nýxis)
  • Hungarian: árnyalat (hu), nüánsz (hu)
  • Indonesian: nuansa (id)
  • Italian: sfumatura (it), sottigliezza (it) f
  • Japanese: ニュアンス (nyuansu), 意味合い (いみあい, imiai)
  • Khmer: please add this translation if you can
  • Korean: 뉘앙스 (ko) (nwiangseu)
  • Norwegian:
    Bokmål: nyanse m
    Nynorsk: nyanse m
  • Occitan: nuança f, matís m
  • Persian: please add this translation if you can
  • Polish: niuans (pl) m
  • Portuguese: nuance (pt) f, nuança (pt) f, sutileza (pt) f, matiz (pt) m
  • Romanian: nuanță (ro) f, nuanțe f pl
  • Russian: нюа́нс (ru) m (njuáns), отте́нок (ru) m (otténok) (of a color, tone or taste)
  • Spanish: matiz (es) m
  • Swedish: nyans (sv) c
  • Thai: please add this translation if you can
  • Turkish: please add this translation if you can
  • Ukrainian: нюа́нс m (njuáns), відті́нок m (vidtínok)
  • Vietnamese: sắc thái (vi)

subtlety or fine detail

  • Armenian: նրբերանգ (hy) (nrberang), նյուանս (hy) (nyuans), նրբություն (hy) (nrbutʿyun)
  • Azerbaijani: çalar
  • Catalan: matís (ca) m
  • Dutch: nuance (nl) c, subtiliteit (nl) f
  • Esperanto: nuanco
  • Finnish: nyanssi (fi), vivahde
  • French: nuance (fr) f, subtilité (fr) f
  • German: Nuance (de) f
  • Greek: υπαινιγμός (el) m (ypainigmós), υπονοούμενο (el) n (yponooúmeno)
    • Ancient: νύξις (el) f (nýxis)
  • Indonesian: nuansa (id)
  • Italian: sottigliezza (it)
  • Japanese: ニュアンス (nyuansu), 詳細 (ja) (しょうさい, shōsai)
  • Persian: ظرافت‎ (fa) (zerâfat), ریزه‌کاری‎ (rize-kâri)
  • Polish: niuans (pl) m, subtelność (pl) f
  • Portuguese: nuance (pt) f, nuança (pt) f, subtil (pt)
  • Russian: нюа́нс (ru) m (njuáns), то́нкость (ru) f (tónkostʹ)
  • Serbo-Croatian:
    Roman: nuance f, osjetljivost (sh) f
  • Spanish: matiz (es) m
  • Swedish: nyans (sv) c

Verb[edit]

nuance (third-person singular simple present nuances, present participle nuancing, simple past and past participle nuanced)

  1. (transitive) To apply a nuance to; to change or redefine in a subtle way.

Translations[edit]

Czech[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ˈnuant͡sɛ]
  • IPA(key): [ˈnɪjant͡sɛ]
  • Hyphenation: nuan‧ce

Noun[edit]

nuance f

  1. nuance

Declension[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • nuance in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
  • nuance in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

Dutch[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from French nuance, from Middle French nuance, from Latin [Term?].

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /nyˈɑ̃sə/, /nyˈɑnsə/
  • Hyphenation: nu‧an‧ce

Noun[edit]

nuance f (plural nuances or nuancen, diminutive nuanceje n or nuancetje n)

  1. nuance, subtle distinction

[edit]

  • nuanceren

Descendants[edit]

  • Afrikaans: nuanse
  • → Indonesian: nuansa

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

nuer +‎ -ance

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /nɥɑ̃s/
  • Homophone: nuances
  • Rhymes: -ɑ̃s

Noun[edit]

nuance f (plural nuances)

  1. nuance
  2. gradation of colors
  3. (music) dynamics

Descendants[edit]

  • → Bulgarian: нюа́нс (njuáns)
  • → Czech: nuance
  • → Danish: nuance
  • → Dutch: nuance
    • Afrikaans: nuanse
    • → Indonesian: nuansa
  • → English: nuance
  • → Esperanto: nuanco
    • → Ido: nuanco
  • → Finnish: nyanssi
  • → German: Nuance
  • → Norwegian: nyanse
  • → Polish: niuans
  • → Portuguese: nuança
  • → Romanian: nuanță
  • → Russian: нюа́нс (njuáns)
  • → Slovak: nuansa
  • → Swedish: nyans

Further reading[edit]

  • “nuance”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Portuguese[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

  • nuança

Noun[edit]

nuance f (plural nuances)

  1. gradation of colour
  2. nuance (minor distinction; fine detail)
    Synonym: sublety
Источник

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