nugget

noun

nug·​get ˈnə-gət 

1

: a solid lump

especially : a native lump of precious metal

2

: tidbit sense 2

nuggets of wisdom

3

: a small usually rounded piece of food

chicken nuggets

Synonyms of nugget

• mouthful
• bite
• taste
• nibble

Examples of nugget in a Sentence

nuggets of beef in the chow mein

a seemingly inconsequential nugget of information that proved to be the key to cracking the case

Recent Examples on the Web

Large wood chips and pine bark nuggets allow the most air and water to penetrate through. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026

Of course, no Texas road trip would be complete without a stop at Buc-ee's—the legendary Texas travel stop known for its enormous gas stations, spotless bathrooms, snack walls, and enough brisket sandwiches and beaver nuggets to fuel the rest of your journey. —Kat Stinson, Travel + Leisure, 9 Mar. 2026

The fans even got eight free Chick-Fil-A free chicken nuggets due to Caleb Martin missing two straight fourth-quarter free throws, which drew one of the evening’s biggest cheers. —Scott Fowler march 4, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2026

Later commentaries describe the relics that came out of the Buddha’s ashes as glittering jewels — some as small as mustard seeds and others resembling gems or golden nuggets. —Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nugget

noun

nug·​get ˈnəg-ət 

: a solid lump especially of precious metal