nook

Definition

n. a small, quiet space that is hidden or tucked away from the rest of a room. It is often a cozy spot where you can sit and relax.

n. a small corner or recess, especially one that offers seclusion or security. Often used to describe architectural features or hidden spots in nature.

simple

“She spent the afternoon reading in a quiet breakfast nook.”

contextual

“The old library was full of hidden nooks where students could study without being disturbed.”

complex

“Every nook and cranny of the ancient cottage was filled with heirlooms, creating a sense of history that felt both intimate and slightly overwhelming.”

Frequently appears in the idiomatic phrase 'every nook and cranny' to mean every possible part of a place.

“The extra length is great for retrieving objects that my cat has swatted into hard-to-reach nooks too.”

The Guardian 21 Aug 2026

“Some of Earth's microbes likely to hitch a ride to space with human explorers could survive in the shaded nooks and crannies of the moon's South Pole region, NASA scientists say.”

Phys.org 19 Aug 2026

From Middle English noke, nok (“nook, corner, angle”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Old English hnoc, hnocc (“hook, angle”), from Proto-Germanic hnukkaz, hnukkô (“a bend”), from Proto-Indo-European knewg- (“to turn, press”), from Proto-Indo-European ken- (“to pinch, press, bend”). If so, then also related to Scots nok (“small hook”), Norwegian dialectal nok, nokke (“hook, angle, bent object”), Danish nok (“hook”), Swedish nock (“ridge”), Faroese nokki (“crook”), Icelandic hnokki (“hook”), Dutch nok (“ridge”) or Dutch hoek (“corner”), Low German Nocke (“tip”), Old Norse hnúka (“to bend, crouch”), Old English ġehnycned (“drawn, pinched, wrinkled”). Also cognate with Scots neuk, nuk (“corner, angle of a square, angular object”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.