nobel prize

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Nobel prize
    n 1: an annual award for outstanding contributions to chemistry
         or physics or physiology and medicine or literature or
         economics or peace

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Nobel prize \No*bel" prize\n.; pl. {No*bel" prizes}.
   Prizes for the encouragement of men and women who work for
   the interests of humanity, established by the will of Alfred
   B. Nobel (1833-1896), the Swedish inventor of dynamite, who
   left his entire estate for this purpose. They are awarded
   yearly for what is regarded as the most important work during
   the year in physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology,
   idealistic literature, and service in the interest of peace.
   The prizes, averaging $40,000 each, were first awarded in
   1901. The monetary value of the awards have increased each
   year, to near one million U. S. dollars by the end of the
   20th century.

   Note: The awards are administered by the [a
         HREF="http:]/www.nobel.se/index.html">Nobel Foundation,
         which maintains a Web Page where the lists of prize
         winners and other information about the Nobel Prize may
         be found.
         [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]