Nuances Meaning and Definition
Nuances
Pronunciation
/ˈnuːæns/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A subtle or slight difference between two similar colors, shades, or hues, often used to describe a distinction between seemingly identical colors.
Examples
- The nuance between bright red and fire engine red was barely discernible.
- The artist used nuance to convey the subtlety of human emotions in her painting.
Synonyms
- Tone
- Shade
Antonyms
- Contrast
- Opposite
Etymology
The word ‘Nuances’ comes from the 18th-century French term ‘nuance’, meaning ‘shade’ or ‘tint’, and has since been adopted into various languages to describe subtle differences in color, sound, or nuance.
Usage Notes
Nuances are often used in art, design, and writing to convey subtle emotional or atmospheric effects.
Cultural References
Nuances have been featured prominently in works such as James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’ and Virginia Woolf’s ‘Mrs. Dalloway’, where they are used to explore the subtleties of human experience.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
‘Find the nuance’ is a common idiomatic expression used to describe the act of distinguishing between subtle differences.
Related Words or Phrases
- Color
- Tone
- Palette
Collocations
- Nuance of color
- Nuance of sound
- Nuance of tone
Frequency of Use
Nuances are used frequently in creative and critical contexts to describe subtle differences and shades of meaning.
Common Misspellings
- Nuance
- Numances