niche

Meanings

Plural: niches

Noun

a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
- "he found his niche in the academic world"
a small concavity
an enclosure that is set back or indented
(ecology) the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species)
A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament.
Any similar position, literal or figurative.
Specifically, a cremation niche; a columbarium.
A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.
An arrow woven into a prayer rug pointing in the direction of qibla.

Verb

To place in a niche.
To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market.

Adj

Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal; obscure.

Origin / Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French niche, from Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (“to make a nest”) (modern French nicher), from Vulgar Latin *nīdicāre, from Latin nīdus (“nest”). Doublet of nidus and nide via Latin and nest via Proto-Indo-European; also related to nyas.

Synonyms

corner, ecological niche, nook, recess, recession, specialization, specialty

Scrabble Score: 10

niche is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
niche is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
niche is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

niche is a valid Words With Friends word