nugget

A nugget is a small, compact piece that has broken away from a larger mass. In geology and mining, the term most often refers to a lump of native metal or ore, especially gold nuggets recovered from placer deposits. Nuggets can form when weathering and erosion release metal from rock, allowing it to accumulate in riverbeds and other deposits. They vary in size from tiny grains to substantial blocks and may consist of nearly pure metal or alloys with trace impurities. Gold nuggets have historic and economic significance and are sought as collectibles as well as for their metal content.

In the context of food, a chicken nugget is a processed piece of chicken meat that is formed, breaded or battered, and fried or baked. The concept emerged in the mid-20th century as a convenient, mass-producible food item. A key figure in its development is food scientist Robert C. Baker, who contributed to techniques for forming and binding chicken pieces. Chicken nuggets were popularized in the United States after McDonald’s introduced Chicken McNuggets in 1983, leading to widespread adoption and a wide range of brand-name and generic products worldwide.

Figuratively, nugget is used to denote a compact, valuable piece of information or insight, as in a “nugget of wisdom” or a “nugget of information.” The term is common in education, journalism, and everyday speech, where it signals conciseness and usefulness.