knickknack
/ˈnik-ˌnak/ (ame, mw)
knickknack — noun
1. a small decorative object, typically inexpensive, that is displayed on a shelf o
a small decorative object, typically inexpensive, that is displayed on a shelf or table as an ornament rather than used for a practical purpose
Wei brought home a ceramic cat from the night market as a knickknack.
countable; brought home / bought as a knickknack
Dust covered the knickknacks that Nadia's grandmother had collected over years of travel.
collect + knickknacks; accumulated over time
The shop near the train station sells handmade knickknacks, postcards, and other souvenirs.
Binta picked up a wooden elephant at the flea market as a knickknack for her desk.
Boris spent the afternoon arranging the knickknacks his aunt had given him over the years.
- ornament
a more general term; ornaments can be valuable or formal, while knickknacks are typically cheap and trivial
- trinket
often a small piece of jewellery or accessory; knickknack is specifically a decorative object for display
- bric-a-brac
a collective uncountable noun for a group of small decorative objects; knickknack is countable and refers to a single item
- souvenir
emphasises the item's role as a memento from a specific place or event, whereas knickknack emphasises its decorative and trivial nature
文法句型
a knickknack
knickknacks
a shelf / collection of knickknacks
用法筆記
Frequently plural (knickknacks) when referring to a collection on display. Often used with a modifier specifying the material, origin, or type (ceramic knickknack, souvenir knickknack).