nine·ty /'nainti/ determiner, n, pron (the number) 90 → see TABLE 1 —tieth /'naintiθ/ determiner, n, pron, adv
ninety-nine $ ^{1} $ determiner, n, pron 1 (the number) 99 → see TABLE 1 2 ninety-nine times out of a hundred infml almost always
ninety-nine², 99 n BrE an ICE CREAM with a FLAKE (=a type of light chocolate bar) in it
Nin•e•veh /'nɪnʒvə/ the capital of ASSYRIA, an ancient EMPIRE, on the east bank of the River TIGRIS, in what is now Iraq. The RUINS of many fine ancient buildings have been found buried there.
nin·ja /ˈnɪndʒə/ n a member of a Japanese class of professional killers in former times, who were very skilled in MARTIAL ARTs
nin·ny /ˈnɪni/ n infml a silly foolish person
Nin·ten·do /nin'tendəu/ trademark a BRAND (=type) of computer games machine made by the Japanese company Nintendo, which is used to play VIDEO GAMES on a television or computer. Nintendo also makes the GAME BOY, a small games machine that you hold in your hand. One of the Nintendo's best-known games has a character called Mario in it.
ninth /nainθ/ determiner, adv, n, pron 9th → see TABLE 1
nip¹ /nip/ v -pp- 1 [l(at);T] to catch in a tight sharp hold between two points or surfaces: The little dog nipped my ankles (=bit them)/nipped at my ankles. (=tried to bite them) | I nipped my finger in the door. | to nip off (=cut off) the corner of the page with scissors 2 [l+prep] BrE infml to go quickly or for a short time: I'll nip out and buy a newspaper. | She won't be long - she's just nipped down to the shops. 3 [T] fml to stop the growth of (plants): The frost has nipped the fruit trees. 4 nip (something) in the bud to stop (something) before it has properly started: Her plans to go to bed with a book were nipped in the bud when visitors arrived unexpectedly.
nip in phr v [1] BrE inml to move quickly sideways in traffic or in a race: I had to stop when another car nipped in a parking space in front of me.
nip² n [S] 1 a coldness: There's a nip in the air today: winter's coming. 2 the act or result of nipping; PINCH: I gave my fingers a nasty nip in the door.
nip³ n [(of)] infml a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink,
(not beer or wine): a nip of whisky
nip and 'tuck adv, adj AmE infml 1 (of two or more competing things) nearly equal: nip and tuck in the last lap of the race 2 (of a situation) having barely what is needed to get a result: I might make it to New York in this old beater, but it's going to be nip and tuck.
nip·per /ˈnɪpər/ n infml, especially BrE a child, especially a small boy
nip·pers /ˈnɪpəz/ n [P] any of various tools like PLIERS
→ see PAIR (USAGE)
nip·py /ˈnɪpi/ adj 1 (of weather) cold; CHILLY: a nippy winter morning 2 quick in movement: You'll have to be nippy if you want to catch the bus. —piness n [U]
Ni-rex /'naɪəreks/ a RADIOACTIVE waste management company (=one that makes waste from nuclear power plants etc safe)
nir·va·na /niə'va:nə, n3:l|nər-, n3:r-/ n [U] (sometimes cap.) (in Buddhism and Hinduism) ENLIGHTENMENT; a state of knowledge or understanding reached while meditating (MEDI-TATE) which is beyond life and death, suffering and change, and is the aim of all believers in these religions
Nirvana a US group who developed a new style of ROCK music called GRUNGE, which was popular in the early 1990s, and whose LEAD singer was Kurt COBAIN. Their ALBUMS include Nevermind and In Utero.
Nis·san /ˈnɪsænəl-sɑːn/ trademark a BRAND (=type) of car or other vehicle made by the Japanese company Nissan
nisi → see DECREE NISI
Nis·sen hut /ˈnɪsən hət/ n BrE a building that is shaped like half a tube and is made of iron sheets. Nissen huts were used especially as military buildings and shelters during World War II. → compare QUONSET HUT
Nis·tel·rooy, Ruud van /'nistelrɔr, ru:d vən/ (1976-) a Dutch football player, known as one of the world's best STRIKERS (=players who try to score GOALS). He has been a successful player for Holland, PSV Eindhoven, and Manchester United.
nit $ ^{1} $ /nit/ n an egg of an insect (usually a LOUSE) that is sometimes found in people's hair
nit² n BrE derog infmi a NITWIT
nit·pick·ing /ˈnɪt,pɪkɪŋ/ n [U] infmi derog the habit of paying too much attention to small and unimportant points or faults —nitpicking adj —nitpicker n
ni·trate /'naitreit, -trәт/ n [C;U] any of several chemicals used mainly as FERTILIZER in improving soil for growing crops
ni-tre BrE || niter AmE / 'naiter/ n [U] any of certain nitrates, including SALTPETRE, especially as substances found in nature
ni·tric ac·id /,naitrik 'æs¹,d/ n [U] a powerful acid (HNO₃) which eats away other substances and is used in explosives and other chemical products
ni·tro·gen /'naɪtrədʒən/ n [U] a gas that is a simple substance (ELEMENT), without colour or smell, that forms most of the Earth's air
nitrogen 'oxides n [P] compounds of nitrogen and oxygen which are produced by the process of burning and are POLLUTANTs (=substances which are harmful to the environment)
ni-tro-gly-ce-rine, -rin /,nait-rau'glisər-n, -trə-, -ri-n|
-rə-n/ n [U] a powerful liquid explosive → see also DYNAMITE
ni-trous ox-ide /,naitrəs 'oksardll-'a:k-/ n [U] a type of gas used by DENTISTS to reduce pain → compare LAUGHING GAS
nitty-gritty /,niti 'griti/ n get down to/come to the nitty-gritty slang to deal with the difficult and practical part of a situation, for example when making an agreement or a decision: Let's get down to the nitty-gritty: exactly how much do you intend to pay me for this? —nitty-gritty adj: nitty-gritty details
nit·wit /ˈnɪt-wɪt/ n infml a silly foolish person: Open it, you nitwit!
Niv·en, David /'nɪvən/ (1910–83) a British actor who was famous for appearing in films as a clever confident Englishman from a high social class. His films include Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) and The Guns of Navarone (1961). He also wrote two humorous books about his life.
níx¹ /niks/ adv AmE infml no: Dad said nix to our plan.
$  \text{mix}^2 \nu \left[ \text{T} \right] \text{AmE infml}  $ (especially in newspapers) to answer no to;
forbid; REJECT: The city nixed the plan.
Nix·on, Richard /ˈnɪksən/ (1913–94) a US politician in the REPUBLICAN PARTY who was President of the US from 1969 to 1974. He helped to end the VIETNAM WAR and improved the US's political relationship with China. He is most famous for being involved in WATERGATE and for officially leaving his position as President before CONGRESS could IMPEACH (=charge with a serious crime) him. He was thought by some people to be dishonest, and because of this he was sometimes called 'Tricky Dicky'.
NJ written abbrev. for NEW JERSEY
N·kru·mah, Kwa·me /ən'kru:mə, 'kwa:mi/ (1909-72) a Ghanaian politician who led his country's fight for independence from the UK. He was Prime Minister (1952-60) and President (1960-66), but he was eventually removed from power by the army.
NLRB, the /,en el a: 'bi:||-a:r-/ n abbrev. for National Labor Relations Board
NM written abbrev. for NEW MEXICO
NME, The /,en em 'i:/ abbrev. for The New Musical Express; a British weekly newspaper about ROCK and POP music
no¹ /nəʊ/ adv 1 (used as an answer expressing refusal or disagreement): 'Have you finished yet?' 'No, I haven't.' | 'Is it raining?' 'No, it's snowing.' | 'Will you post this letter for me?' 'No, it's too cold to go out.' → opposite YES 2 not any: I'm feeling no worse (=feeling the same or better) than yesterday. | There were no fewer than (=at least) 150 people at the party. | They no longer live here. → compare NOT; see MORE (USAGE) 3 often pomp (used before an adjective to give the