nook

noun \ ˈnu̇k \

Updated on: 8 Apr 2018

Definition of nook

1 chiefly Scotland : a right-angled corner

2 a : an interior angle formed by two meeting walls

b : a secluded or sheltered place or part

searched every nook and cranny

c : a small often recessed section of a larger room

a breakfast nook

See nook defined for English-language learners

See nook defined for kids

Examples of nook in a Sentence

an old house full of nooks and crannies
a cozy nook perfect for reading
We found a shady nook under an old oak tree.

Recent Examples of nook from the Web

In the end, our architect brokered a settlement in the Kitchen War: My husband got a dedicated nook for his cappuccino maker and coffee-bean grinder.

— michelle slatalla, WSJ, "Why Kitchen Islands Are Ruining America’s Kitchens," 3 Apr. 2018
Built-in seating creates warmth and comfort, making a cozy nook out of your dining space.

— lisa marie hart, USA TODAY, "Take a fresh approach to updating your entire house," 25 Mar. 2018
Expect fire pits, tabletops and a nook with bench seating.

— kathleen purvis, charlotteobserver, "What are the 5 coolest things at the new Unknown Brewing? Food, for one | Charlotte Observer," 22 Mar. 2018
As officers pull back some carpeting and shine their flashlights into a tiny nook in the trunk area, the face of a cat pops up, framed by the wires of the brake lights.

— bob warren, NOLA.com, "'Good day for the cat': Watch as tabby is rescued from Slidell SUV," 21 Mar. 2018
The shrouds were used for two smaller bedrooms, waterbed nooks and bathrooms.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Who will rescue the West Linn dome home from bankruptcy court? An artist, hobbit or developer? (photos)," 20 Mar. 2018
AltoVino seats 48 in its dining room and when including bar seating and additional nooks by the windows, has the capacity for 60.

— justin phillips, San Francisco Chronicle, "AltoVino brings a new restaurant to Russian Hill," 15 Mar. 2018
Off of that are a large kitchen in need of an update and a cozy breakfast nook.

— lauren ro, Curbed, "Charming Colonial with color-blocked interiors asks $935K," 15 Mar. 2018
In the financial district, a one-bedroom, one-bath condo with high ceilings, lots of light, and for outdoor space, a private deeded nook on the roof of the building.

— stefanos chen, New York Times, "Homes for Sale in Manhattan and Brooklyn," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nook.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of nook

Middle English noke, nok

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

nook Synonyms

Synonyms

alcove, niche, recess;

Related Words

corner, cranny, cubbyhole;

cubicle;

dent, embrasure, indent, indentation, indenture;

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

NOOK Defined for English Language Learners

nook

noun

Definition of nook for English Language Learners

: a small space or corner that is inside something
: a part of a room (such as a corner) that is used for a specific purpose
: a quiet place that is sheltered by a tree, rock, etc.

NOOK Defined for Kids

nook

noun \ ˈnu̇k \

Definition of nook for Students

1 : an inner corner

a chimney nook

2 : a sheltered or hidden place

Or she could crawl through the hedge and emerge in some sheltered garden nook where neither Mrs. Tifton nor anyone else would be likely to see her.
—Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks