Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - nice

~ adj 1 »ENJOYABLE/ATTRACTIVE« pleasant, attractive or enjoyable  (That's a nice dress. | We had a really nice day at the beach. | not too hot, just a nice temperature | "We could take a picnic." "Yes, that'd be nice." | it is nice to do something)  (It's nice to have a sit down. | It's really nice to see you again. | look/taste/smell nice)  (You look nice in that suit. | If it doesn't taste nice, don't eat it. | nice big/new/long etc spoken)  (I had a nice long letter from your mother. | nice and warm/nice and sweet etc)  (Have one of these oranges - they're nice and juicy. | one of the nice things about...)  (One of the nice things about Christmas is having all the family together..) 2 »FRIENDLY« friendly or kind  (Dave's a really nice guy. | He told me, in the nicest possible way, that I was interfering too much. | Did she really say all those nice things about me? | be nice to)  (Be nice to Grandad. He's not feeling very well today. | it is nice of sb (to do sth))  (It was nice of you to help.) 3 it's nice to know (that) spoken used to mean that you feel happier when you know something  (I still haven't heard any news - it would be nice to know what's happening) 4 »NOT NICE AT ALL« spoken used when you think that something or someone is not nice at all  (That's a nice way to treat a friend, I must say! | You've got us into a nice old mess, haven't you?) 5 be as nice as pie spoken if someone is as nice as pie, they are very nice to you when you were expecting them to be angry  (I told her about the broken window and she was as nice as pie about it.) 6 have a nice day! spoken especially AmE used to say goodbye to someone, especially to customers in shops and restaurants when they are leaving 7 nice to meet you spoken used as a friendly greeting when you meet someone for the first time  (Hello. It's nice to meet you at last.) 8 it's been nice meeting you spoken used when you say goodbye to someone you have just met 9 nice one! BrE spoken used to say that you think someone has just said or done something clever and amusing  ("Dad said he'd give us some money to help pay for it." "Nice one!") 10 nice work! BrE spoken used to praise someone when they have succeeded in doing something  ("I've traced those missing files, sir." "Nice work, Cardew!") 11 »DETAIL« formal involving a very small difference or detail  (a nice point of law) 12 »RESPECTABLE« old-fashioned having high standards of moral and social behaviour  (the kind of nightclubs nice people don't go to) - niceness n  (- see also no more Mr Nice Guy! guy1 (5))  ( USAGE NOTE: NICE GRAMMAR Nice is often joined to another adj by and when it follows is, seems etc without a noun. (But you do not use `nice and' before a noun Your new house looks nice and big. Compare This is a nice big house! SPOKEN-WRITTEN Nice is very frequent in spoken English, but many people feel you should not use it too much in writing. Often it is better to think of a word that describes what you mean more exactly. For example, look at this sentence That area of France is really nice. Here you could make your meaning clearer by using more specific adjectives such as interesting or beautiful. )