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Nicol prism

(Encyclopedia)Nicol prism nĭkˈəl [key], optical device invented (1828) by William Nicol of Edinburgh. It consists essentially of a crystal of calcite, or Iceland spar, that is cut at an angle into two equal piec...

Nicomedia

(Encyclopedia)Nicomedia nĭkōmēˈdēə [key], ancient city, NW Asia Minor, near the Bosporus, in present-day Turkey. Refounded (264 b.c.) by Nicomedes I of Bithynia to replace Astacus as his capital, it flourishe...

Nicoya Peninsula

(Encyclopedia)Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste and Puntarenas provs., W Costa Rica, separating the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Nicoya. About 75 mi (120 km) long and 19–37 mi (30–60 km) wide, it is Costa Rica's l...

niello

(Encyclopedia)niello nēĕlˈō [key] [Ital. from Latin nigellus=blackish], black metallic alloy of sulfur, copper, silver, and usually lead, used as an inlay on engraved metal. The metal surface is brushed with a ...

Nielsen, A. C.

(Encyclopedia)Nielsen, A. C. (Arthur Charles Nielsen) nēlˈsən [key], 1897–1980, American market researcher, b. Chicago, grad. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (B.S., 1918). He worked as an electrical engineer befor...

Niemeyer Soares, Oscar

(Encyclopedia)Niemeyer Soares, Oscar o͝oskärˈ nēˈmīər so͝oäˈrəs [key], 1907–2012, Brazil's foremost 20th-century architect, b. Rio de Janeiro. Influenced by Le Corbusier, Niemeyer developed an architec...

Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm

(Encyclopedia)Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm frēˈdrĭkh vĭlˈhĕlm nēˈchə [key], 1844–1900, German philosopher, b. Röcken, Prussia. The son of a clergyman, Nietzsche studied Greek and Latin at Bonn and Leipz...

Niger, country, Africa

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Niger nīˈjər, nēzhârˈ [key], officially Republic of Niger, republic (2015 est. pop. 18,045,729), 489,189 sq mi (1,267,000 sq km), W Africa. It borders on Burkina Faso and Mali in the west...

Niger, river, Africa

(Encyclopedia)Niger nīˈjər [key], great river of W Africa, c.2,600 mi (4,180 km) long, rising on the Fouta Djallon plateau, SW Guinea, and flowing NE through Guinea and into Mali. In central Mali the Niger forms...

Nigeria

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Nigeria nījĭrˈēə [key], officially Federal Republic of Nigeria, republic (2015 est. pop. 181,182,000), 356,667 sq mi (923,768 sq km), W Africa. It borders on the Gulf of Guinea (an arm of ...