nerd — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A person who is intellectual but generally introverted.

   Usage

   • Derogatory
   • Slang
   • sometimes

   Examples

   The bullies used to call him a nerd at school.

   More examples (2)

   1953 Advertisement for "Businessman's Lunch", a play by Michael Quinn, in Patricia Brown, Gloria Mundi They particularly enjoy making fun of one of their fellows who is not present, whom they consider a hopeless nerd – until, that is, they learn he is engaged to marry the boss's daughter.

   I once found myself listening to a gay man who was saying wistfully, "I wish there was someplace you could go, maybe a club, where only masculine men would be allowed in." […] Ever tactful, I did not point out to him that if such a place existed, he probably would not be allowed into it, for while he wasn't a campy sort he was too much of a nerd to meet his own specification.

   "We were all geeks and nerds, but he was unusually poorly adjusted," recalls Chess, now a mathematics professor at Hunter College.

   More examples (1)

   "Yes, I am super nerd, and the whole room cracked up," Said Orszag.

2. One who has an intense, obsessive interest in something.

   Usage

   • Derogatory
   • Informal
   • sometimes

   Synonyms

   geekpropeller head

   Examples

   a computer nerd

   a comic-book nerd

3. A member of a subculture revolving around intellectualism, technology, video games, fantasy and science fiction, comic books and assorted media.

   Usage

   • Derogatory
   • Informal
   • sometimes

4. One who is stupid and socially inept or unattractive; a social outcast.

   Usage

   • Dated
   • Derogatory
   • Informal
   • sometimes

   Examples

   ALICE: Prithee , what might a nerd be ? GLORIA: A nerd is an idiot or other person absurd.

   To much of the world, we in America are nerds. We don't understand the world we live in.

   More examples (2)

   "You're a nerd, Jake, a nerd. You're stupid. You're clumsy. You're dirt, Jake. You're nothing."

   Nerds of the Old West

Noun

1. an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious

   Synonyms

   swotgrindwonkdweeb

   Broader terms

   learnerscholarassimilatorstudent

2. an intelligent but single-minded expert in a particular technical field or profession

   Broader terms

   expert