NICE


Meaning of NICE in English

(~r, ~st)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.

If you say that something is ~, you mean that you find it attractive, pleasant, or enjoyable.

I think silk ties can be quite ~...

It’s ~ to be here together again...

We had a ~ meal with a bottle of champagne.

ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf

~ly

He’s just written a book, ~ly illustrated and not too technical...

ADV: ADV after v, ADV -ed/adj

2.

If you say that it is ~ of someone to say or do something, you are saying that they are being kind and thoughtful. This is often used as a way of thanking someone.

It’s awfully ~ of you to come all this way to see me...

‘How are your boys?’—‘How ~ of you to ask.’...

= kind

ADJ: it v-link ADJ of n to-inf, v-link ADJ of n

3.

If you say that someone is ~, you mean that you like them because they are friendly and pleasant.

He was a ~ fellow, very quiet and courteous.

? unpleasant

ADJ

~ness

Mr Pearce was rather bowled over by his ~ness, his concern and his ordinariness.

N-UNCOUNT

4.

If you are ~ to people, you are friendly, pleasant, or polite towards them.

She met Mr and Mrs Ricciardi, who were very ~ to her.

ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ to n

~ly

He treated you very ~ly and acted like a decent guy.

ADV: ADV after v

5.

When the weather is ~, it is warm and pleasant.

He nodded to us and said, ‘Nice weather we’re having.’

ADJ

6.

You can use ~ to emphasize a particular quality that you like.

With a ~ dark colour, the wine is medium to full bodied...

Add the oats to thicken the mixture and stir until it is ~ and creamy...

ADJ: ADJ adj n, v-link ADJ and adj, ADJ and adv after v emphasis

7.

A ~ point or distinction is very clear, precise, and based on good reasoning. (FORMAL)

Those are ~ academic arguments, but what about the immediate future?

ADJ

~ly

I think this puts the problem very ~ly.

ADV: ADV after v

8.

You can use ~ when you are greeting people. For example, you can say ‘Nice to meet you’, ‘Nice to have met you’, or ‘Nice to see you’.

Good morning. Nice to meet you and thanks for being with us this weekend...

‘It’s so ~ to see you,’ said Charles.

ADJ: it v-link ADJ to-inf formulae

9.

see also ~ly

Collins COBUILD.      Толковый словарь английского языка для изучающих язык Коллинз COBUILD (международная база данных языков Бирмингемского университета) .