NICE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Nice mean? 

• NICE (noun)
  The noun NICE has 1 sense:

1. a city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean; the leading resort on the French Riviera

  Familiarity information: NICE used as a noun is very rare.

• NICE (adjective)
  The adjective NICE has 5 senses:

1. pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

2. socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

3. done with delicacy and skill

4. excessively fastidious and easily disgusted

5. exhibiting courtesy and politeness

  Familiarity information: NICE used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NICE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A city in southeastern France on the Mediterranean; the leading resort on the French Riviera

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Instance hypernyms:

city; metropolis; urban center (a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts)

Holonyms ("Nice" is a part of...):

France; French Republic (a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe)

• NICE (adjective)

Comparative: nicer   
Superlative: nicest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

Context example:

the corn and tomatoes are nice today

Similar:

good (agreeable or pleasing)

pleasant ((of persons) having pleasing manners or behavior)

Also:

pleasant (affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings)

Attribute:

niceness (the quality of nice)

Antonym:

nasty (offensive or even (of persons) malicious)

Derivation:

niceness (the quality of nice)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous

Synonyms:

decent; nice

Context example:

a nice girl

Similar:

respectable (characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals)

Derivation:

niceness (a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Done with delicacy and skill

Synonyms:

nice; skillful

Context example:

a nice shot

Similar:

precise (sharply exact or accurate or delimited)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Excessively fastidious and easily disgusted

Synonyms:

dainty; nice; overnice; prissy; squeamish

Context example:

so squeamish he would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow

Similar:

fastidious (giving careful attention to detail; hard to please; excessively concerned with cleanliness)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Exhibiting courtesy and politeness

Synonyms:

courteous; gracious; nice

Context example:

a nice gesture

Similar:

polite (showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.)

Derivation:

niceness (a courteous manner that respects accepted social usage)

 Context examples 

“Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to this floor.”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It may not be felt in Bath, with your nice pavements; but in the country it is of some consequence.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I was absorbed in the execution of these nice details, when, after one rapid tap, my door unclosed, admitting St. John Rivers.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

I have a presentiment that you are going to propose, Ned. I do wish you wouldn't; for things are so much nicer as they are.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It is not nice—for me,” I added.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"I shall get a nice box of Faber's drawing pencils; I really need them," said Amy decidedly.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Oh! It is a very nice word indeed!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

It won't be nice to-day, what of Tom quittin' an' nobody but Bernard to drive the wagon.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“We have only met each other once before, you know. A nice business we made of it then! Trot, my dear, another cup.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It must be so nice to see strange countries.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)