Definition of "nonpareil" in English

adjective

1. (frequently postpositive) Unequalled, unrivalled; unique.

noun

1. (countable) A person or thing that has no equal; a paragon.

2. The blue underwing or Clifden nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), a species of moth distributed across the Palearctic; also (obsolete) any of a number of moths of other species.

3. In full nonpareil parrot: an eastern rosella, of species Platycercus eximius, a rosella (parrot) native to southeastern Australia.

4. A painted bunting (Passerina ciris), a brightly-coloured finch native to North America.

5. In full nonpareil apple: an apple tasting both sweet and tart which ripens very late in the season; also, the tree producing this fruit.

6. Any of various types of small sweets.

7. A small pellet of white or coloured sugar used as decoration on baked goods and candy.

8. A small, flat chocolate drop covered with such pellets of sugar, similar to a comfit.

9. A caper (“pickled edible flower bud”) of the smallest size.

10. (uncountable, typography, chiefly historical) A size of type between ruby and emerald (or, in the United States, between agate and minion), standardized as 6-point; (countable) a slug of this size.