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nudge

Pronunciation: /nʌd͡ʒ/

The English word “nudge” has 7 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A gentle push.
  2. A feature of instant messaging software used to get the attention of another user, as by shaking the conversation window or playing a sound.
  3. The rotation by one step of a fruit machine reel of the player's choice.
  4. The use of positive reinforcement and indirect suggestions as ways to influence.

verb

  1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal.
  2. To near or come close to something.
  3. To move slightly.

Etymology

Circa 17th century, perhaps of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian nugge, nyggje (“to push, rub, shove”), Icelandic nugga (“to rub, massage”), from the root of Proto-Germanic *hnōjaną (“to smooth, join together”), from Proto-Indo-European *kneh₂- (compare Ancient Greek κνάω (knáō, “to scratch, scrape”), source of English acnestis). Compare also Scots nodge (“to push, poke, nudge”), knidge…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.