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nip
1[ nip ]
verb (used with object)
- to take off by pinching, biting, or snipping (usually followed by off ):
He nipped off a piece of steak and gave it to the dog.
- to check in growth or development.
- to affect sharply and painfully or injuriously, as a very cold temperature:
a cold wind that nips the fingers.
- Informal. to snatch away suddenly.
- Informal. to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin; edge out.
- Informal. to steal or pilfer.
- Nautical.
- (of ice) to press (a ship) from opposite sides.
- to seize (a taut rope) to another rope.
verb (used without object)
- Chiefly British Slang. to leave stealthily; sneak away; flee (often followed by away ).
noun
- an act of nipping; a pinch or small bite:
The dog took several nips at our heels.
- a biting quality, as in cold or frosty air:
There's a nip in the air this morning.
- sharp cold; a sharp touch of frost:
The trees had felt the first nip of winter.
- a sharp or biting remark.
- a biting taste or tang, especially in some cheese.
- a small bit or quantity of anything:
a nip of bread to stave off hunger.
- Nautical.
- an abrupt turn or twist in a rope.
- a part of a rope or chain bound by a seizing or nipper.
- Usually nips. nipper ( def 2 ).
nip
2[ nip ]
noun
- a small drink of alcoholic liquor; sip:
a person who relishes an occasional nip.
- Chiefly British. split ( def 27 ).
verb (used with or without object)
- to drink (alcoholic liquor) in small sips, especially repeatedly.
Nip
3[ nip ]
noun
- a contemptuous term used to refer to a Japanese person.
nip
2/ nɪp /
verb
- to catch or tightly compress, as between a finger and the thumb; pinch
- often foll by off to remove by clipping, biting, etc
- whenintr, often foll by at to give a small sharp bite (to)
the dog nipped at his heels
- (esp of the cold) to affect with a stinging sensation
- to harm through cold
the frost nipped the young plants
- to check or destroy the growth of (esp in the phrase nip in the bud )
- slang.to steal
- informal.intr; foll by along, up, out, etc to hurry; dart
- slang.to snatch
noun
- the act of nipping; a pinch, snip, etc
- a frosty or chilly quality
- severe frost or cold
the first nip of winter
- a small piece or quantity
he went out for a nip of fresh air
- a sharp flavour or tang
- archaic.a taunting remark
- nip and tucknip and tuck
- neck and neck
- plastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons
- put the nips in slang.put the nips in to exert pressure on someone, esp in order to extort money
nip
3/ nɪp /
noun
- a small drink of spirits; dram
- a measure of spirits usually equal to one sixth of a gill
verb
- to drink (spirits), esp habitually in small amounts
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Sensitive Note
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Word History and Origins
Origin of nip1
Origin of nip2
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Word History and Origins
Origin of nip1
Origin of nip2
Origin of nip3
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Idioms and Phrases
- nip and tuck, with each competitor equaling or closely contesting the speed, scoring, or efforts of the other:
It was nip and tuck as to which sailboat would reach port first.
- nip in the bud. bud 1( def 13 ).
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Example Sentences
Rich men put their mistresses there so they can nip in and visit them on the way home.
Lebanese security agencies have been quick to try to nip what could well be a new bombing spate in the bud.
They saw the light years ago and now many do a healthy nip-and-tuck business, especially on noses.
To the north, the icy southern peaks of the Brooks Range, the northernmost mountain range on the continent, nip at the sky.
But did she really deserve all the nip-and-tuck hate-tweeting?
Laverdire derives Saguenay from the Montagnais saki-nip, "the rushing water."
Owing to the flagboat drifting, they went round Lepe buoy, and having to nip to fetch, 'Valkyrie' gained a trifle.
"I'd like a little nip of something to cure the belly-ache," he answered slily.
Sheppy is now able to slip in on them and nip their heels, and they do not dare to take a chance on kicking at him.
I knew right off it was a nip-and-tuck race, with the chances in favor of a man called Pringle getting nipped.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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