different between niche vs compartment

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (“make a nest”) (modern French nicher), from Latin n?dus (“nest”). Doublet of nidus and nide via Latin and nest via Proto-Indo-European; also related to nyas.

Pronunciation

• (General Australian, Canada, Ireland, UK) IPA^(key): /ni??/
  • Rhymes: -i??
• (US) IPA^(key): /n?t??/, /ni?/, /n??/
  • Rhymes: -?t?

Noun

niche (plural niches)

1. (architecture) A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. Hence, any similar position, literal or figurative.

   Synonym: nook
2. (ecology) A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
3. (by extension) Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.

   Synonyms: specialty, specialization,

4. (Islam) An arrow woven into a prayer rug pointing in the direction of qibla.

Derived terms

• fundamental niche
• niche market

Translations

Verb

niche (third-person singular simple present niches, present participle niching, simple past and past participle niched)

1. (transitive) To place in a niche.

   a niched vase

2. (transitive, marketing) To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market.
   • 2002, Frederick Betz, Executive Strategy (page 92)

     Product differentiation will be mostly limited to market niching and fashion.

Adjective

niche (comparative more niche, superlative most niche)

1. Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal.

Translations

See also

• niché

Anagrams

• Chien, chine, chiné

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French niche, from Middle French niche, from Old French niche.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ni?/
• Hyphenation: ni?che

Noun

niche f (plural niches, diminutive nicheje n)

1. (especially in ecology and business) a niche

See also

• nis

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ni?/

Etymology 1

From Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nichier (“make a nest”), from Latin n?dus (“nest”) (via a verb *n?dic?re).

Noun

niche f (plural niches)

1. niche
2. kennel (for dog)

Descendants

• ? Danish: niche
• ? Dutch: niche
• ? English: niche
• ? Macedonian: ???? (niša)
• ? Russian: ???? (niša)

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the main entry.

Verb

niche

1. first-person singular present indicative of nicher
2. third-person singular present indicative of nicher
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of nicher
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of nicher
5. second-person singular imperative of nicher

Further reading

• “niche” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• chien, chine, Chine, chiné

Norman

Etymology

From Old French niche, from nichier (“make a nest”), from Latin n?dus (“nest”).

Noun

niche f (plural niches)

1. (Jersey) kennel

Synonyms

• câniche

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?nit??e/, [?ni.t??e]

Noun

niche m (plural niches)

1. (Venezuela, slang, offensive) low-class

English

Etymology

First attested 1564, from Middle French compartiment, from Italian compartimento, from Late Latin compartiri (“to divide with, to share with”), from com- + partiri (“to apportion, to divide, to share”)

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /k?m?p??tm?nt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k?m?p??tm?nt/
• Hyphenation: com?part?ment

Noun

compartment (plural compartments)

1. A room, or section, or chamber

   Two men were seated in a well-lighted compartment of a third-class railway carriage.

2. One of the parts into which an area is subdivided.
3. (biochemistry) Part of a protein that serves a specific function.
4. (heraldry) A mound (often of grass) beneath the shield in a coat of arms on which the supporters stand.
5. (anatomy) A region in the body, delimited by a biological membrane.

Derived terms

• engine compartment

Translations

Verb

compartment (third-person singular simple present compartments, present participle compartmenting, simple past and past participle compartmented)

1. (transitive) To arrange in separate compartments.