noun
nibbling
NIHB-lihng
Nibbling (noun) means the act of taking small, quick bites, or the sound this makes. Example: “The nibbling of the mice kept her awake all night.”
noun
1
The act of taking small, quick bites, or the sound this makes.
"The nibbling of the mice kept her awake all night."
"Minute nibblings and rustlings broke the silence."
— Virginia Woolf, Between the Acts (1941)
2
A small, gradual reduction or intrusion into something.
"Years of nibbling at the budget had left the department underfunded."
How to use nibbling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTaking lots of tiny bites, or chipping away at something bit by bit.
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Word forms
- Plural
- nibblings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the mice kept her awake all night.
Etymology
From nibble plus the -ing ending.
Rhymes for nibbling
See all rhymes for nibbling →Frequently asked questions
What does “nibbling” mean?
The word “nibbling” means the act of taking small, quick bites, or the sound this makes. In plain terms, taking lots of tiny bites, or chipping away at something bit by bit.
How do you pronounce “nibbling”?
“Nibbling” is pronounced NIHB-lihng (/ˈnɪb(ə)lɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “nibbling” in a sentence?
Here is “nibbling” used in a sentence: “The nibbling of the mice kept her awake all night.”
What part of speech is “nibbling”?
“Nibbling” is a noun.
How many meanings does “nibbling” have?
“Nibbling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of taking small, quick bites, or the sound this makes.
