nub

plural nubs

1. obsoleteThe innermost section of a chrysalis in a silk cocoon.
2. A small knob or lump.

   Synonyms: nubbin

3. The essence or core of an issue, argument etc.

   What do you think is the nub of the problem?

   3 more examples

   Very often, of course, the rambling and disjointed humorous story finishes with a nub, point, snapper, or whatever you like to call it.

   1895 October 3, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “How to Tell a Story”, in How to Tell a Story and Other Essays, New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers, published 1898, →OCLC, page 4

   But surely the males are no problem? Aha...no we're approaching the nub.

   2000, Bill Oddie, Gripping Yarns, page 115

   Though some CCS scholars have attempted to ground their practice on the “information hiding” view, such attempts are in my view doomed to fail, because the “information hiding” view denies the ultimate reality of code. As an alternative, I suggest that source code abstractions are virtualisations of metaphors. The nub of truth in the “information hiding” view is that programming abstractions are metaphorical. Abstractions provide a concrete framework for thinking about or conceptualising the behaviour of the machine. Some of these abstractions are so familiar that we have forgotten they are metaphors.

   2026, Michael Falk, “Wikilambda the ultimate: the Wikimedia foundation’s search for the perfect language”, in AI & Society: Knowledge, Culture and Communication, →DOI

   Synonyms: crux, gist, bowels, sum, brass tacks, core, crux, essence

4. euphemisticslangvulgarThe clitoris.

   He stroked her, using her movements to increase the pressure on her nub, catching her between his fingers.

   2010, Beverly Rae, Wild Cat, →ISBN, page 81

   2 more examples

   “ — and then rub her nub with the bridge of your nose, right where the nerve will drive her straight to the ceiling!”

   2007, Melissa MacNeal, Hot for It, →ISBN, page 198

   When he used his fingers to rub her nub, he didn't have to wait anymore. She exploded for the second time that morning,...

   2008, Arianna Hart, A Man for Marley, →ISBN, page 82

5. colloquialcomputingA pointing stick.
6. entertainmentA passage of Shakespearean blank verse.

   To an audience a clever nub can pass for Shakespeare himself.

   2013, Heathcote Williams, Nubbing, Cold Turkey Press

   1 more example

   A nub is a passage of blank verse that Shakespearean actors have sometimes relied upon when they forget their lines. It doesn't have to make any sense, but it must sound plausible. To alert the other actors on stage that the speaker is in difficulty, the word nub is used in the first line.

   2009, David Crystal, Walking English, Overlook Press, page 183

7. informalThe genital tubercle.

   nub theory

present singular third person nubs · participle present nubbing · participle past nubbed · past nubbed

1. ball gamesTo hit the ball weakly.
2. To push; to nudge.
3. To beckon.
4. To extemporize a passage of Shakespearean blank verse

   In Shall we Shog?, Globe artistic director Mark Rylance hilariously found himself having to nub the Quarto version of Hamlet's speech to the players.

   2009, David Crystal, Walking English, Overlook Press, page 184

plural nubs

1. InternetalternativeAlternative spelling of noob.

   He can’t even make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? What a nub.

plural nubs

1. USabbreviationacronymderogatoryslanggovernmentAcronym of new underway bitch or non-useful body (“an underqualified crewmember, generally regarded as inexperienced and unhelpful”).

   Get qualified, nub!

   3 more examples

   I go to my first real duty station in February and thinking about qualifying just seems insurmountable I realize saying that just makes me sound like a nub from what my instructor FT1 says but still would like advice.

   2021 November 28, u/Aggressive_Pen_3194, “Advice on being overwhelmed on qualifying once getting put on n a submarine.”, in r/newtothenavy (Reddit post), archived from the original on 30 Mar 2025

   Im hoping some of you guys that went to sea have some advice on things to buy to help out a nub.

   2022 December 10, u/Sufficient-Raccoon-7, “Sub life”, in r/NavyNukes (Reddit post), archived from the original on 10 Dec 2022

   You are treated much better in the civilian world. No one will call you a nub or look down on you for not being qualified yet. Everyone treats everyone else with respect.

   2024 April 5, u/BigGoopy2, “Navy vs Civilian Nuke Training”, in r/NavyNukes (Reddit post), archived from the original on 26 Aug 2026

   Synonyms: FNG, abecedarian, alphabetarian, apprentice, amateur, beginner, bun, colt