/ ˈnɪkneɪm; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
an informal, often humorous, name for a person that is connected with their real name, their personality or appearance, or with sth they have done
■ verb
[ vn - n ] [ often passive ] to give a nickname to sb/sth :
She was nicknamed 'The Ice Queen'.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from an eke-name ( eke meaning addition ), misinterpreted, by wrong division, as a neke name .