NIT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nit mean? 

• NIT (noun)
  The noun NIT has 2 senses:

1. a luminance unit equal to 1 candle per square meter measured perpendicular to the rays from the source

2. egg or young of an insect parasitic on mammals especially a sucking louse; often attached to a hair or item of clothing

  Familiarity information: NIT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NIT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A luminance unit equal to 1 candle per square meter measured perpendicular to the rays from the source

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("nit" is a kind of...):

luminance unit (a measure of luminance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Egg or young of an insect parasitic on mammals especially a sucking louse; often attached to a hair or item of clothing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("nit" is a kind of...):

egg (animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds)

 Context examples 

The eggs, called nits, are even smaller - about the size of a knot in thread.

(Head Lice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Symptoms of lice may include: • Intense itching • Rash • Visible nits (lice eggs) or crawling lice

(Lice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The eggs (nits) of head lice can be mistaken for dandruff, but they are adherent to the hair shafts.

(Human Head Louse, NCI Thesaurus)

Lice and nits are easiest to detect at the neckline and behind the ears.

(Head Lice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)