Meaning of the word "nice"

This has probably been mentioned elsewhere but I didn't find what I was looking for using Google search.

What's the meaning of the word "nice" here? Is it English understatement (though my European friends use it as well)? I have also been called "nice" to my face. In California (though 5 years ago) that word is usually a comment on your personality (=pleasant), but made to a third person. And of course, used in "Have a nice day" which I've never heard here. 

In my opinion nice is an entirely useless word that one uses when they dont have anything more descriptive to say.  My English husband says that he was lectured in school about using it and teachers forced students to choose a "better" word when described something as nice (but I hardly assume that to be a UK thing, more likely just a my husband's school thing).

I have rarely (that I have noticed) heard the word used to describe a person's personality as to mean "kind", but more often to describe something or someone's appearance.  ("do you like this shirt?" "yes, its nice")

I miss "have a nice day"....  I'm going to bring that trend to the UK.   

I miss "have a nice day"....  I'm going to bring that trend to the UK.   

When I am on the tills at work, I tend to say it. Some people have laughed at it. I interpreted it as a "typical American" sort of laugh (or sometimes scoff).

I'm still going to say it 

Oh and I hear the word "nice" to describe food that I say is "good".

When I am on the tills at work, I tend to say it. Some people have laughed at it. I interpreted it as a "typical American" sort of laugh (or sometimes scoff).

I'm still going to say it 

Good for you!  I say it all the time (a few years in retail have ingrained it in me) some people smile, most just repeat it back to me...  My hubby repeats me in a mocking tone- but you will see, one day.... He'll start doing it too!

In my opinion nice is an entirely useless word that one uses when they dont have anything more descriptive to say. 

Yes. Michael Palin was once described as "The world's nicest man" (Or England's, or Britain's, depending on which source you believe)

In my opinion nice is an entirely useless word that one uses when they dont have anything more descriptive to say.  My English husband says that he was lectured in school about using it and teachers forced students to choose a "better" word when described something as nice (but I hardly assume that to be a UK thing, more likely just a my husband's school thing).

Your husband is right. My Welsh mother says that she and her siblings would always cringe when they had to take a note to school from their mother (my grandmother) which invariably included the dreaded words "nice" and/or "nasty".