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A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.
The chef could taste the nuances in the wine that others missed.
The chef could detect the subtle differences in the wine's flavor that most people wouldn't notice.
Understanding the nuances of body language is crucial in negotiations.
Recognizing the small, often unspoken signals in body language is essential for successful negotiations.
Often used to describe differences that are not immediately obvious but are important for full understanding.
Avoid using 'nuance' to describe obvious differences. It specifically refers to subtle, hard-to-notice distinctions.
Always consider whether the difference being described is subtle enough to warrant the word 'nuance'.
From French 'nuance', meaning 'shade of color', derived from 'nue' (shade) + '-ance' (quality of). First used in English in the early 18th century to describe color variations, later extended to other subtle differences.
Used in both artistic and analytical contexts. In art, it refers to color variations; in language or thought, it refers to subtle distinctions. Often pluralized in these contexts ('the nuances of the language').