945
nice
New Zealand
Auckland
NORTH ISLAND
Wellington
SOUTH ISLAND
Christchurch
Dunedin
New Zea·land /nju: 'zi:lənd||nu:-/ a country consisting of two main islands, the North Island and the South Island, and several smaller ones, in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia. Population: 3,737,277 (2001). Capital: Wellington. It is known mainly for its farming, especially sheep. About 10% of the population are MAORI people, who first came to New Zealand around the 9th century AD, and who call the country Aotearoa. But most of the population are people who came from the UK in the 19th and 20th centuries. —New Zealand adj: New Zealand lamb —New Zealander n
next¹ /nekst/ determiner 1 closest in space, order, or degree; without anything coming before or between: The next house to ours is a mile away. | Take the next left turn after the school. | When you've finished this chapter go on to the next one. | Japan is the main market for our products, and the next biggest market is Germany. | The quickest way is by train; the next best way is to go by road. 2 immediately following in time; the one after the one mentioned or after the present: Where will you be during the next few weeks? | Will you be at our next meeting? | How long will it be till the next election? | The law was passed in 1962, but three years later it was repealed by the next government. | [(without the)] Next time you see her, give her my best wishes. | the week after next | We went there last Sunday and we're going again next Sunday. ➔ compare LAST¹ 3 (the) next day the day after: She rang me and we arranged to meet the next day. ➔ compare the other day (OTHER) 4 Next (please). Will the next person waiting please speak/come forward? ➔ see also next of kin (KIN)
next² adv 1 just afterwards: What will you do next? | I like tennis best of all and swimming next. | First, you heat the fat; next, you add the onions. 2 at the first time after this or that: I'll tell you the answer when we next meet. ➔ compare LAST² 3 next to a) closest to; beside: the table next to the door | Can I sit next to you? b) closest to, in order, degree etc: Next to biology, I like physics best. | the next-to-last name on the list c) almost: He earns next to nothing. | next to impossible
Next trademark a British shop which sells fashionable and good-quality clothes for adults and children. There are Next shops in many UK towns, but the company also sells some of its products by means of a CATALOGUE, the Next Directory. Customers can order goods from the catalogue by telephone.
next 'door adv ([to]) 1 in or being the next building: the people next door | We live next door to a restaurant. 2 next door to almost the same as: Knocking someone down in your car when you're drunk is next door to murder.
next-door adj 1 [A] in or being the next building, especially in a row: next-door neighbours 2 boy/girl next-door used about someone who is just like the average person, not rich, not famous, not extremely beautiful etc: Jeans are part of everyone's wardrobe – from the boy next-door to the rich and famous. | Kylie transformed herself from the innocent girl next-door to sexy pop star practically overnight. —boy-next-door/girl-next-door adj: We like our children's TV presenters to have a girl- or boy-next-door image.
nexus /'neksəs/ n a connection or network of connections between objects, ideas etc
NFC, the /en ef 'si:/ abbrev. for National Football Conference; one of the two groups of AMERICAN FOOTBALL teams in the NFL (National Football League) that play against each other to see who is the best. The other group of teams is the AFC (American Football Conference).
NFL, the /en ef 'el/ abbrev. for National Football League; the organization in charge of the highest level of professional football (=American football) in the US. The NFL consists of two LEAGUES (=groups of teams who play against each other), the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). Every year, the teams that win these leagues play each other in the Super Bowl. ➔ see also FOOTBALL
NFT, the /en ef 'ti:/ abbrev. for the National Film Theatre
NFU /en ef 'ju:/ abbrev. for the NATIONAL FARMERS UNION
NH written abbrev. for NEW HAMPSHIRE
NHL, the /en eɪtʃ 'el/ abbrev. for National Hockey League; the organization in charge of the highest level of professional ICE HOCKEY in the US and Canada. The NHL consists of two LEAGUES (=groups of teams who play against each other), the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Every year, the teams that win these leagues play each other in the Stanley Cup.
NHS, the /en eɪtʃ 'es/ abbrev. for the NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE; the UK system providing free medical treatment: an NHS hospital | Can you get plastic surgery on the NHS? (=paid for by the NHS)
NHS number n abbrev. for National Health Service number; a number, used by the British NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, which is given to everyone who is born in the UK or who comes to live in the UK
NI /en 'aɪ/ abbrev. for NATIONAL INSURANCE
Ni·ag·a·ra Falls /naɪˌægərə 'fɔ:lz/ also the Niagara Falls two very large WATERFALLS on the border between Canada and the US, which are popular with tourists and are also used to produce electricity. Americans often joke about people who have just got married going to Niagara Falls on their HONEYMOON, but not many people really go there for that reason.
nib /nɪb/ n the pointed piece from which the ink flows at the end of a pen ➔ see also NIBS
nib·ble¹ /'nɪbəl/ v 1 [(AWAY at, on);T] to eat with small repeated bites: Aren't you hungry? You're only nibbling at your food. | nibbling (on) a bit of bread | (fig.) Food and rent bills nibbled (away) at their savings. 2 [T+obj+adv/prep] to make (a hole) in this way: The mice have nibbled a hole in the cheese. | The mice nibbled their way through the wooden door. 3 [(at)] to show slight interest in something, especially an offer or suggestion
nibble² n infml 1 [(at)] an act of nibbling: I haven't sold my car yet but I've had a few nibbles. (=some people have shown interest) 2 a very small amount of food
nibs /nɪbz/ n humor his/her nibs slang an important person, or one who thinks he/she is important: His nibs has wine with his meal, but we only get water.
NICAM /'naɪkæm/ trademark a type of system used by British television companies for broadcasting sound in STEREO (=when the sound that you hear comes from two different places): a TV set with NICAM stereo
Nic·a·rag·ua /nɪkə'rægjuəl-'rɑ:gwɑ/ a country in Central America between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and south of Honduras and north of Costa Rica. Population: 5,128,517 (2003). Capital: Managua. Its main products are coffee, cotton, and sugar. In the 1980s there was a CIVIL WAR (=a war between groups of people from the same country) between the elected LEFT-WING government, known as the Sandinistas, and a RIGHT-WING group called the CONTRAS, who were given money, weapons, and military training by the US government. —Nicaraguan n, adj
nice /naɪs/ adj 1 a) kind or friendly: She's the nicest person I know. | I know you don't like him but try to be nice to him. | It was nice of you to help us. b) giving pleasure; good: a nice day (=with good weather) | This soup tastes very nice. | How nice to see you. | Have a nice time at the party. | It'd be nice if we could meet soon. 2 fml showing or needing careful understanding or decision; delicate; SUBTLE: a nice point of law | a nice distinction between two meanings 3 becoming rare having (too) high standards of moral or social behaviour; RESPECTABLE: Nice girls don't go there! 4 infml derog bad; unpleasant: