nuance
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.a tiny difference in meaning, feeling, or tone that might be hard to see at first.
n.a subtle distinction or variation in meaning, expression, or response. Countable in this sense.
Simple“The actor captured every nuance of the character's sadness without saying a word.”
In context“A skilled translator must capture the cultural nuances of the original text to ensure the intended tone remains intact for a foreign audience.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to add small details to an idea or statement to make it more accurate or less simple.
v.to give a nuance to; to refine or qualify a statement or position by adding subtle distinctions. Transitive use.
Simple“I would like to nuance my earlier statement so people don't misunderstand me.”
In context“The researcher attempted to nuance the prevailing theory by introducing variables that had been previously overlooked in the initial studies.”
“She understood scenes and nuance and human struggle like no child I'd ever seen on camera.”
“Bluesky Facebook WhatsApp Messenger LinkedIn X (Twitter) Many people recognize that gender – how a person identifies, presents themselves and is perceived – has nuances .”
Borrowed from French nuance (“nuance, shade, hue”). Several steps omitting from Latin nūbēs. Compare typologically Italian sfumatura (< Latin fūmus).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.