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Definition of nudge verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

nudge

verb
 
/nʌdʒ/
 
/nʌdʒ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they nudge
 
/nʌdʒ/
 
/nʌdʒ/
he / she / it nudges
 
/ˈnʌdʒɪz/
 
/ˈnʌdʒɪz/
past simple nudged
 
/nʌdʒd/
 
/nʌdʒd/
past participle nudged
 
/nʌdʒd/
 
/nʌdʒd/
-ing form nudging
 
/ˈnʌdʒɪŋ/
 
/ˈnʌdʒɪŋ/
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  1. [transitive] nudge somebody/something to push somebody gently, especially with your elbow, in order to get their attention
    • He nudged me and whispered, ‘Look who's just come in.’
    Extra Examples
    • She nudged him playfully in the ribs.
    • The kids were giggling and nudging each other.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • gently
    • playfully
    phrases
    • nudge somebody in the ribs
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] nudge somebody/something + adv./prep. to push somebody/something gently or gradually in a particular direction
    • He nudged the ball past the goalie and into the net.
    • She nudged me out of the way.
    • (figurative) He nudged the conversation towards the subject of money.
    • (figurative) She tried to nudge him into changing his mind (= persuade him to do it).
  3. [transitive, intransitive] nudge (something) + adv./prep. to move forward by pushing with your elbow
    • He nudged his way through the crowd.
  4. [transitive] nudge something (+ adv./prep.) to reach or make something reach a particular level
    • Inflation was nudging 20 per cent.
    • This afternoon's sunshine could nudge the temperature above freezing.
  5. Word Originlate 17th cent. (as a verb): of unknown origin; compare with Norwegian dialect nugga, nyggja ‘to push, rub’.
See nudge in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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B2
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