A recess in a wall, as for holding a statue or urn.
A cranny, hollow, or crevice, as in rock.
A situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, abilities, or nature: found her niche in life.
A special area of demand for a product or service: "One niche that is approaching mass-market proportions is held by regional magazines"(Brad Edmondson).
The function or position of an organism or population within an ecological community.
The particular area within a habitat occupied by an organism.
Ecology
The function or position of an organism or population within an ecological community.
The particular area within a habitat occupied by an organism.
tr.v.
niched, nich·ing, nich·es
To place in a niche.
[French, from Old French, from nichier, to nest (from Vulgar Latin *nīdicāre, from Latin nīdus, nest; see sed- in Indo-European roots) or from Old Italian nicchio, seashell (perhaps from Latin mītulus, mussel).]
1611, "shallow recess in a wall," from Fr. niche, perhaps from It. nicchia "niche, nook," from nicchio "seashell," probably from L. mitulus "mussel," but the change of -m- to -n- is not explained. Another suggestion is that the word is from O.Fr. niche, from L. nidus "nest," but that has difficulties, too. Figurative sense is first recorded 1725. Biological use dates from 1927.
nicheAudio Help (nĭch, nēsh) Pronunciation Key
The function or position of a species within an ecological community. A species's niche includes the physical environment to which it has become adapted as well as its role as producer and consumer of food resources. See also competitive exclusion principle.
Niche\, n. [F., fr. It. nicchia, prop., a shell-like recess in a wall, fr. nicchio a shellfish, mussel, fr. L. mytilus.] 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. Images defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed. --Evelun.
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Audio Help [nich] Pronunciation Key noun, adjective, verb, niched, nich·ing. 
