Definition

1. Noun:

   • A chemical element: A hard, silvery-white, malleable, and ductile metallic element that is resistant to corrosion. It is used in alloys, electroplating, and batteries.
   • A U.S. coin: A coin of the United States or Canada worth five cents, formally one-twentieth of a dollar.
   • Five dollars: (Slang) An amount of five dollars, sometimes used historically to refer to a small bag of drugs costing that amount.

2. Verb:

   • To plate with nickel: To coat an object with a thin layer of nickel, typically through electroplating, to provide a hard, corrosion-resistant, or decorative surface.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Element):
  • The alloy is made primarily of iron and nickel.
  • Nickel is often used in the production of stainless steel.
• Noun (Coin):
  • I need a nickel for the parking meter.
  • He gave me two dimes and a nickel.
• Verb (To plate):
  • They decided to nickel the metal fittings to prevent rust.
  • The vintage faucet has been nickeled for a shiny finish.

Advanced Usage

• "Nickel-and-dime" (verb, informal): To exhaust or defeat someone or something through a series of small, relentless charges or actions.
  • The large corporation tried to nickel-and-dime its small suppliers.
• "Not worth a plugged nickel" (idiom, chiefly North American): Completely worthless.
  • His promise isn't worth a plugged nickel.

Variants and Related Words

• Nickel-plated (adjective): Coated with a layer of nickel.
  • a nickel-plated key
• Nickelous (adjective): Relating to or containing nickel, especially in a bivalent state.
• Nickelic (adjective): Relating to or containing nickel, especially in a trivalent state.

Synonyms

• Five-cent piece (for the coin).
• Element 28 (scientific reference for the metal).
• Plate, coat (for the verb).

Related Phrasal Verbs / Compounds

• Nickel-and-dime (adjective): Involving or dealing with very small amounts of money; insignificant.
  • We're tired of these nickel-and-dime expenses.

Related Idioms

• "A nickel for your thoughts": A playful way to ask someone what they are thinking about. (A variation of "a penny for your thoughts").
• To do something at a nickel: (Archaic/Slang) To do something for a very low cost or with minimal resources.

Noun

1. five dollars worth of a drug
   • a nickel bag of drugs
   • a nickel deck of heroin
2. a United States coin worth one twentieth of a dollar
3. a hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion; used in alloys; occurs in pentlandite and smaltite and garnierite and millerite

Verb

1. plate with nickel
   • nickel the plate