niche

Borrowed from French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (“make a nest”) (modern French nicher), from Latin nīdus (“nest”).

• (General Australian, Canada, Ireland, UK) IPA^(key): /niːʃ/
  • Rhymes: -iːʃ

  • Audio (UK)

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• (US) IPA^(key): /nɪt͡ʃ/, /niʃ/, /nɪʃ/

  • Audio (US)

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  • Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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  • Rhymes: -ɪtʃ

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.
   • 1641, John Evelyn, William Bray, editor, John Evelyn's Diary, volume 1, London: Henry Colburn, published 1850, page 34:

     On the margin of this long tract, are abundance of shrines and images, defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed.

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.
4. An arrow woven into a Muslim prayer rug pointing in the direction of Mecca.

• (position of opportunity): specialty, specialization,

• fundamental niche
• niche market

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.

niche (comparative more niche, superlative most niche)

1. Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal.
   • 2016, BookLover, How to Become A Massive YouTube Celebrity

     You can go even more niche if you like though and choose 'crocheting' or 'bird sewing patterns' but the 'more niche' you go, the more you narrow your audience.

• niché

• Chien, chine, chiné

Borrowed from French niche.

• Audio

  (file)

niche f (plural niches, diminutive nicheje n)

1. (especially in ecology and business) a niche

• nis

• IPA^(key): /niʃ/

• audio

  (file)

From Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nichier (“make a nest”), from Latin nīdus (“nest”) (via a verb *nīdicāre).

niche f (plural niches)

1. niche
2. kennel (for dog)

• → Dutch: niche
• → English: niche

See the etymology of the main entry.

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

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

• chien, chine, Chine, chiné

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

niche f (plural niches)

1. (Jersey) kennel

• câniche

• IPA^(key): /ˈnit͡ʃe/

niche m (plural niches)

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