a descriptive name for a place or thing
"the nickname for the U.S. Constitution is `Old Ironsides'"
A familiar, invented name for a person or thing used instead of the actual name of the person or thing, often based on some noteworthy characteristic.
"The coach affectionately gave the speedy rookie the nickname Lightning because he could outrun everyone else on the field."
In plain English: A nickname is an informal name that people use instead of your real first name because it sounds fun, fits you well, or describes something about you.
"His friends always call him by his nickname, Mike."
Usage: A nickname is an informal substitute for someone's real name that usually highlights a specific trait. You can use it as both a noun referring to the name itself and a verb meaning to assign such a label to another person or object.
To give a nickname to (a person or thing).
"The coach decided to nickname the new striker "Lightning.""
In plain English: To nickname someone is to give them an informal name that their friends use instead of their real first name.
"The children decided to nickname their new puppy Spot because he always looked at them with big, round eyes."
The word nickname comes from Middle English neke name, which was originally an alteration of the earlier term ekename meaning "additional name." This phrase combined Old English words for "more" and "name," eventually becoming a single unit through a shift in how speakers divided the sound.