nugget

/ˈnʌɡɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnʌɡɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnə-gət/ (ame, mw)

nugget — noun

  • nuggetsingular
  • nuggetsplural

1. a small lump of gold or another valuable metal that has formed naturally in the

1.名詞B1
釋義

a small lump of gold or another valuable metal that has formed naturally in the ground

例句

The prospector found a small gold nugget in the riverbed near his camp.

Putri held the tiny nugget of silver up to the sunlight to examine it closely.

countable: a nugget of [metal]

同義詞
  • lump

    more general term for any solid, irregularly shaped piece; does not imply value or preciousness

  • chunk

    suggests a larger, thicker piece broken off something; less precise about natural formation

  • piece

    neutral and broad; lacks the specificity of natural, unrefined metal

反義詞
  • dust

    very fine particles of metal, the opposite of a solid lump

  • grain

    a tiny, granular particle rather than a consolidated lump

文法句型

a nugget of [gold/silver/precious metal]

用法筆記

This sense typically describes raw, unprocessed precious metal — especially gold — discovered by miners or prospectors rather than refined or manufactured metal.

常見錯誤

❌He found a nugget of iron in the river.
✅He found a nugget of gold in the river.
💡'nugget' for metal is almost always used with precious metals like gold or silver, not ordinary metals like iron.

2. a breaded and fried portion of boneless chicken or fish, formed into a small rou

2.名詞A2
釋義

a breaded and fried portion of boneless chicken or fish, formed into a small rounded bite that is easy to pick up and eat

例句

The children ordered chicken nuggets and shared a portion of chips.

usually plural: chicken nuggets

Yumi dipped each fish nugget into the sweet chilli sauce before eating it.

countable: fish nugget

同義詞
  • chicken tender

    a long, thin strip of chicken breast rather than a small rounded piece

  • fish finger

    British English term for a long, rectangular breaded fish portion

文法句型

chicken nugget / fish nugget

nuggets + [preposition/verb]

用法筆記

Almost always used in the plural form (nuggets) in everyday conversation. Chicken nuggets are especially common in fast-food restaurants and children's meals.

常見錯誤

❌I ate a nugget for lunch.
✅I ate some nuggets for lunch.
💡native speakers nearly always use the plural form when referring to the food.

3. a short piece of information, a comment, or an idea that is especially true, wis

3.名詞B2
釋義

a short piece of information, a comment, or an idea that is especially true, wise, or useful — for example, a valuable piece of advice from someone with a lot of experience

例句

The old professor offered a nugget of wisdom that stayed with me for years.

pattern: a nugget of wisdom

Ayesha's grandmother shared a nugget of truth about the importance of staying patient.

pattern: a nugget of truth

同義詞
  • gem

    similar metaphor suggesting rarity and value; slightly more informal

  • pearl

    a traditional idiom ('pearl of wisdom') suggesting timeless value; slightly old-fashioned

  • tidbit

    a small, interesting piece of information; does not carry the same 'wisdom' implication

文法句型

a nugget of [wisdom/truth/information/advice]

用法筆記

Follows the fixed pattern 'a nugget of [abstract noun]' — the nouns that follow are almost always positive and intellectual (wisdom, truth, advice, information, insight). Avoid using it with negative nouns.

常見錯誤

❌She gave me a nugget of bad news.
✅She gave me a nugget of useful advice.
💡'nugget' in this sense only pairs with positive, valuable content.