nickel

nickel — noun

1. a silver-white metal that does not rust or tarnish easily and is mixed with othe

1.名詞B1
釋義

a silver-white metal that does not rust or tarnish easily and is mixed with other metals to create alloys such as stainless steel

例句

The recycling centre separates nickel from other metals and sells it to factories.

passive + industrial recycling context

The Watanabe family's kitchen knives are made of stainless steel that contains nickel and chromium.

同義詞
  • metal

    much more general term for any metallic element

  • alloy

    a mixture of metals — nickel itself is not an alloy but is used to make them

文法句型

nickel + verb (uncountable)

a range of + nickels (countable, technical)

用法筆記

Usually uncountable (e.g. 'Nickel is expensive'). The countable form 'nickels' appears mainly in technical writing about different types of nickel alloys.

常見錯誤

❌Nickel is a soft metal that bends very easily.
✅Nickel is a hard metal that resists rust and damage.
💡Nickel is actually quite hard and strong, not soft like lead or tin.

2. a coin used in the United States and Canada that has a value of five cents

2.名詞B1
釋義

a coin used in the United States and Canada that has a value of five cents

例句

Hugo found three nickels and a dime in the bottom of his backpack.

collocation: nickels and dimes together

The parking meter in Christopher's neighbourhood only accepts nickels, dimes, and quarters.

collocation: nickels, dimes, and quarters (set phrase)

同義詞
  • five-cent piece

    more formal, used in official contexts

  • coin

    general term for any metal currency piece

文法句型

a + nickel

nickels + (and dimes/quarters)

用法筆記

Countable noun. Often appears in the fixed phrase 'nickels and dimes' to refer to small amounts of money. 'Nickel' as a coin is not used in other countries — each country has its own coin names.

常見錯誤

❌I paid five nickels for the sandwich.
✅I paid five dollars for the sandwich.
💡A nickel is a single coin, not a unit of currency. Say 'five dollars' or 'five one-dollar bills.'

3. a formation in American football in which five defensive backs are deployed at t

3.名詞C1
釋義

a formation in American football in which five defensive backs are deployed at the same time, instead of the usual four, in order to defend against forward passes

例句

The coach used a nickel formation when the other team sent out three wide receivers.

Mateo studied the nickel defense for hours before the championship game against their strongest rivals.

attributive: nickel defense

同義詞
反義詞
  • base defense

    the standard defensive formation with four defensive backs (three cornerbacks and two safeties or variations with four defensive backs)

文法句型

nickel + defense/package/formation/coverage/back

in a + nickel + formation

用法筆記

The name comes from the value of a nickel coin (five cents) — five defensive backs on the field. Used almost exclusively as a modifier before another noun: nickel defense, nickel back, nickel package.

常見錯誤

❌The team played a nickel in the second half.
✅The team used a nickel defense in the second half.
💡'Nickel' alone is not used this way; the full term 'nickel defense' or 'nickel formation' is preferred.

4. slang term for an amount of an illegal drug that costs five dollars

4.名詞C2
釋義

slang term for an amount of an illegal drug that costs five dollars

例句

The undercover officer bought a nickel of marijuana from a dealer near the park.

pattern: a nickel of [drug]

Noor never used drugs, so her brother warned her to avoid people selling nickels near the school gates.

文法句型

a + nickel + of + [drug]

用法筆記

This is urban slang and should only be used in informal or fictional contexts. Not understood outside of North American drug culture. Never use in formal writing or academic English.