Words / C2

NUB/nʌb/

The nub is the central point of a matter: the nub of the issue, get to the nub. Heart, core, gist, essence, and kernel (all already in the dictionary) are cousins; gist is the summary, nub is the sticking-point. A nub is also a small lump. Do not bury the nub under biscuits in the minutes.

Meaning

The central and most important point of a matter.

Examples

• “The nub of the complaint was the missing date, not the biscuits.”
• “Heart / core are everyday (already in the dictionary). Gist is the summary (already in the dictionary). Essence is the what-it-is (already in the dictionary). Kernel is the seed (already in the dictionary). The lump sense is physical. Name the date. Catering is not the finding.”

Good to know

The crux; the heart of it. Everyday: heart / core. Close: gist (summary). Biscuits are not the issue.

Near in meaning

crux

New