nerd
/nɜːd/ (bre, ipa) · /nɜːrd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnərd/ (ame, mw)
nerd — noun
- nerdsingular
- nerdsplural
1. a person whom other people think is strange, dull, or uncool because they do not
a person whom other people think is strange, dull, or uncool because they do not have good social skills or do not follow popular fashions
Nikhil felt like a nerd at the party because nobody wanted to talk to him.
collocation: feel like a nerd
In high school, popular kids often made fun of Omar for being a nerd.
passive: made fun of for being a nerd
The new student was labelled a nerd simply because he carried a maths textbook everywhere.
Valentina's classmates called her a nerd when she chose to study during lunch break.
People called Jin a nerd until they saw how kind and funny he was.
- geek
very similar, but 'geek' often suggests intense enthusiasm for a hobby rather than just social awkwardness; 'nerd' is more about being studious and uncool
- dork
a milder, more playful insult for someone seen as silly or awkward; less common in serious use
- bookworm
focuses specifically on a love of reading and study, without the connotation of being unfashionable
- cool person
someone who is fashionable, confident, and socially successful
文法句型
a nerd
be a nerd
call someone a nerd
用法筆記
Can be offensive if directed at someone as an insult. However, in modern informal English, some people proudly describe themselves as nerds to signal enthusiasm for a hobby or field rather than social awkwardness.
常見錯誤
2. someone who spends a huge amount of time and energy on one hobby, subject, or te
someone who spends a huge amount of time and energy on one hobby, subject, or technical field, collecting a vast body of specialised knowledge in the process
Eitan is such a computer nerd that he built his own gaming laptop from scratch.
pattern: such a [field] nerd that [result]
Olivia became a history nerd after her grandmother showed her old family photos.
pattern: became a [field] nerd after [event]
The company hired a team of coding nerds to design their new app.
Inês is a total science nerd who watches documentary shows for fun.
- geek
nearly interchangeable in this sense; 'geek' may feel slightly more tech-focused, while 'nerd' can apply to any subject
- enthusiast
more formal and broader in meaning; lacks the playful or obsessive connotation of 'nerd'
- buff
used for knowledge-based hobbies (e.g. 'film buff', 'history buff'); slightly more mature and less dismissive than 'nerd'
- expert
implies a professional or academic level of knowledge; 'nerd' is less formal and suggests passionate hobby-level interest
- novice
someone who is new to a subject and knows very little about it
文法句型
a [field] nerd
be a nerd about [something]
用法筆記
The subject area is almost always stated before the word (e.g. 'computer nerd', 'film nerd', 'maths nerd'). Without a modifier, the word defaults to the more insulting sense 1 meaning. Unlike sense 1, this usage is often neutral or even positive, especially within communities that value the expertise.