Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Probably from Low German knubbe

nub

 noun
     
nub
1

the nub of the problem/matter/argument etc

the main point of a problem etc:
The real nub of the matter is money.
2 [countable] a small rounded piece of something, especially a piece that is left after the rest has been eaten, used etc
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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