7 definitions found for nuance

nuance n 1: a subtle difference in meaning or opinion or attitude; "without understanding the finer nuances you can't enjoy the humor"; "don't argue about shades of meaning" [syn: nuance, nicety, shade, subtlety, refinement]

nuance 1781, from Fr. nuance "slight difference, shade of color," from nuer "to shade," from nue "cloud," from Gallo-Romance *nuba, from L. nubes "cloud;" related to obnubere "to veil."

nuance
n. & v.
--n. a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, feeling, colour, etc.
--v.tr. give a nuance or nuances to.
Etymology: F f. nuer to shade, ult. f. L nubes cloud

nuance (nuances) A nuance is a small difference in sound, feeling, appearance, or meaning. We can use our eyes and facial expressions to communicate virtually every subtle nuance of emotion there is. N-VAR

nuance nju:ˈɑ:ns n. & v. --n. a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, feeling, colour, etc. --v.tr. give a nuance or nuances to. [F f. nuer to shade, ult. f. L nubes cloud]

Nuance Nu`ance", n. [F.] A shade of difference; a delicate gradation.

100 Moby Thesaurus words for "nuance": allegory, allusion, amount, arcane meaning, assumption, caliber, coloration, compass, connotation, contradistinction, cut, dash, degree, delicacy, delicate distinction, demarcation, differentia, differential, differentiation, distinction, distinctiveness, distinguishment, division, extent, fine point, grade, hairline, hairsplitting, height, hint, implication, implied meaning, import, inference, innuendo, interval, intimation, ironic suggestion, leap, level, margin, mark, meaning, measure, metaphorical sense, microscopic distinction, narrow margin, nice distinction, nicety, notch, occult meaning, overtone, particle of difference, pas, peg, period, pitch, plane, plateau, point, point of difference, presumption, presupposition, proportion, range, ratio, reach, refinement, remove, round, rung, scale, scope, segregation, separation, shade, shade of difference, shadow, soupcon, space, stair, standard, step, stint, subsense, subsidiary sense, subtle distinction, subtlety, suggestion, supposition, suspicion, symbolism, tinge, touch, tread, trichoschistism, undercurrent, undermeaning, undertone, wide margin