Definition of niche

< nicety

Nichiren >

niche    (nch, nsh) KEY 

NOUN:

1. A recess in a wall, as for holding a statue or urn.
2. A cranny, hollow, or crevice, as in rock.
3. 1. A situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, abilities, or nature: found her niche in life.
   2. A special area of demand for a product or service: "One niche that is approaching mass-market proportions is held by regional magazines" (Brad Edmondson).
4. Ecology
   1. The function or position of an organism or population within an ecological community.
   2. The particular area within a habitat occupied by an organism.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
niched, nich·ing, nich·es

To place in a niche.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French, from Old French, from nichier, to nest (from Vulgar Latin *ndicre, from Latin ndus, nest; see sed- in Indo-European roots), or from Old Italian nicchio, seashell (perhaps from Latin mtulus, mussel)