adjective
nice
Showing or requiring careful attention to fine distinctions.
The lawyer draws a nice distinction between the two claims.
Etymology
Nice changed markedly from foolish through fussy or fastidious to precise and delicate. A nice distinction preserves that attention to fine details rather than the common meaning pleasant.
More examples
- It required nice judgment.
- The argument turns on a nice point.
- She has a nice sense of balance.
Forms
nice · nicer · nicest
Similar words
- precise
- The ordinary term for exactness or fine distinctions.