noun
Common
nick
nihk
Nick (noun) means a small cut or notch in a surface, or the exact critical point or moment something happens. Example: “There's a small nick in the edge of the blade.”
noun
1
A small cut or notch in a surface, or the exact critical point or moment something happens.
"There's a small nick in the edge of the blade."
"He arrived in the nick of time."
"The knife left a tiny nick in the wooden worktop."
2
British slang for a police station or prison.
"They took him down to the nick for questioning."
"He spent the night in the nick after the argument outside the pub."
"Officers drove the suspect back to the nick."
3
British slang for condition or state, as in "in good nick".
"The old car is still in good nick despite its age."
"For a house that old, it's in remarkably good nick."
"My bike is in poor nick after a winter outside."
verb
1
To cut or scratch slightly.
"He nicked his chin shaving."
"Be careful not to nick the wire's insulation with the scissors."
"She nicked her finger while chopping the onions."
2
British slang meaning to steal.
"Someone nicked my bike from outside the shop."
"Who nicked my pen from the desk?"
"Some teenagers nicked a few sweets from the corner shop."
3
British slang meaning to arrest.
"The police nicked him for speeding."
"They nicked two men outside the football ground last night."
"If you drive like that, you'll get nicked."
How to use nick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly a small cut or notch, but in British slang it also covers stealing, arresting, jail, and being "in good/bad nick" (condition).
When to use it
The "steal/arrest/prison" senses are informal British English and less familiar to American readers.
Common pairings
in the nick of time
in good nick
get nicked
nick something
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like nick.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- nicks
- Third person singular
- nicks
- Past tense
- nicked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There's a small _____ in the edge of the blade.
Etymology
From Late Middle English nik ("notch"), origin otherwise unclear; the slang meanings for stealing, arresting, and police stations developed later in British English.
Related words
Rhymes for nick
See all rhymes for nick →Frequently asked questions
What does “nick” mean?
The word “nick” means a small cut or notch in a surface, or the exact critical point or moment something happens. In plain terms, mainly a small cut or notch, but in British slang it also covers stealing, arresting, jail, and being "in good/bad nick" (condition).
How do you pronounce “nick”?
“Nick” is pronounced nihk (/nɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “nick” in a sentence?
Here is “nick” used in a sentence: “There's a small nick in the edge of the blade.”
What part of speech is “nick”?
Depending on how it is used, “nick” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “nick” come from?
The word “nick” comes from Middle English. From Late Middle English nik ("notch"), origin otherwise unclear; the slang meanings for stealing, arresting, and police stations developed later in British English.
Is “nick” a common word?
“Nick” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nick” have?
“Nick” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small cut or notch in a surface, or the exact critical point or moment something happens.
What does 'in the nick of time' mean?
"In the nick of time" means at the very last possible moment, just before it is too late. Here "nick" is the exact critical point when something happens. If you catch a falling glass in the nick of time, you grab it a split second before it would have shattered.
What is the difference between a nick and a notch?
Both are small cuts, but a nick is usually shallow, accidental, and thin — like the mark a razor leaves. A notch tends to be a deliberate, V-shaped indentation cut into an edge, such as the notches on a measuring stick. A nick is a flaw; a notch is often made on purpose.
What are the meanings of 'nick'?
As a noun, "nick" has two main senses. The first is a small cut, chip, or notch in a surface, such as a nick in a knife blade. The second is the precise, critical moment something happens, seen in the phrase "in the nick of time." Context makes clear which is meant.
What is an example of a nick?
A tiny cut you get shaving, a small chip on the rim of a plate, or a shallow gouge in a wooden table are all nicks. The word suits minor, often accidental damage — a mark noticeable up close but not serious enough to ruin the object.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include nick:
