noun

nick

nihk

noun

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."

British slang for a police station or prison.

"They took him down to the nick for questioning."

British slang for condition or state, as in "in good nick".

"The old car is still in good nick despite its age."

verb

To cut or scratch slightly.

"He nicked his chin shaving."

British slang meaning to steal.

"Someone nicked my bike from outside the shop."

British slang meaning to arrest.

"The police nicked him for speeding."

How to Use Nick

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

nicked past tense, nicked past tense, nicks plural, nicks plural, nicks singular, nicks singular

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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.

Rhymes for nick

ick tick kick sick pick rick wick mick hick lick Vick thick

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