Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

nerd

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

nerd

Main Entry:: nerd
Pronunciation:: \ˈnərd\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: perhaps from nerd, a creature in the children's book If I Ran the Zoo (1950) by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
Date:: 1951

: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person ; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits <computer nerds>

— nerd·i·ness

Listen to the pronunciation of nerdiness

\ˈnər-dē-nəs\ noun

— nerd·ish

Listen to the pronunciation of nerdish

\ˈnər-dish\ adjective

— nerdy

Listen to the pronunciation of nerdy

\-dē\ adjective

Learn more about "nerd" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "nerd" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols