verb
nibble
NIHBL
Nibble (verb) means to eat something by taking small, repeated bites. Example: “The rabbit nibbled quietly on a piece of lettuce.”
verb
1
To eat something by taking small, repeated bites.
"The rabbit nibbled quietly on a piece of lettuce."
"She nibbled at the edge of her sandwich, not very hungry."
2
To show mild or cautious interest in something, such as an offer or opportunity.
"A few investors are nibbling at the startup, but no one has committed yet."
noun
1
A small bite, or a small amount of food eaten in small bites.
"He took a nibble of the cheese before deciding he liked it."
2
In computing, a unit of digital information equal to half a byte (four bits).
"Each hexadecimal digit represents one nibble of data."
How to use nibble
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo eat or bite in small amounts, or a small bite itself; in computing, half a byte.
Common pairings
nibble on
nibble away at
a quick nibble
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Word forms
- Plural
- nibbles
- Third person singular
- nibbles
- Past tense
- nibbled
- Archaic forms
- nibblest, nibbledst, nibbleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The rabbit _____ quietly on a piece of lettuce.
Etymology
From Late Middle English nebillen, "to peck away at something" — likely related to Low German words for eating in small bites.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for nibble
See all rhymes for nibble →Frequently asked questions
What does “nibble” mean?
The word “nibble” means to eat something by taking small, repeated bites. In plain terms, to eat or bite in small amounts, or a small bite itself; in computing, half a byte.
How do you pronounce “nibble”?
“Nibble” is pronounced NIHBL (/ˈnɪb(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “nibble” in a sentence?
Here is “nibble” used in a sentence: “The rabbit nibbled quietly on a piece of lettuce.”
What part of speech is “nibble”?
Depending on how it is used, “nibble” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “nibble” come from?
The word “nibble” comes from Middle English. From Late Middle English nebillen, "to peck away at something" — likely related to Low German words for eating in small bites.
How many meanings does “nibble” have?
“Nibble” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to eat something by taking small, repeated bites.
