nuance

nu-ance/ˈnuːɑns/US

noun

  1. 1

    A minor distinction.

    hidden nuances

  2. 2

    Subtlety or fine detail.

    Understanding the basics is easy, but appreciating the nuances takes years.

verb

  1. 1

    To apply a nuance to; to change or redefine in a subtle way.

Etymology

From French nuance, "shade of colour", from nue ("cloud").

Synonyms

Also useful for “nuance”:Unscrambler