verb
Uncommon
nip
nihp
Nip (verb) means to pinch or bite quickly and lightly. Example: “The puppy nipped at my heels the whole walk.”
verb
1
To pinch or bite quickly and lightly.
"The puppy nipped at my heels the whole walk."
"Careful, the crab will nip your fingers."
2
To make cold air sting or bite at the skin.
"The frost nipped at our noses on the walk home."
3
(informal, British) To go somewhere quickly for a short time.
"I'll just nip to the shop for some milk."
noun
1
A small drink of spirits.
"He took a nip of whisky to warm up."
2
A sharp bite of cold weather.
"There's a real nip in the air this morning."
How to use nip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pinch or bite lightly, to sting with cold, to dash somewhere briefly, or a small drink of alcohol.
UK vs US
"Nip to the shop" (meaning a quick errand) is a distinctly British usage.
Common pairings
nip in the bud
a nip in the air
nip and tuck
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Word forms
- Plural
- nips
- Third person singular
- nips
- Past tense
- nipped
Fill the gap
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Careful, the crab will _____ your fingers.
Etymology
From late Middle English nippen, related to Low German and Dutch words meaning "to pinch."
Related words
Rhymes for nip
See all rhymes for nip →Frequently asked questions
What does “nip” mean?
The word “nip” means to pinch or bite quickly and lightly. In plain terms, to pinch or bite lightly, to sting with cold, to dash somewhere briefly, or a small drink of alcohol.
How do you pronounce “nip”?
“Nip” is pronounced nihp (/nɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “nip” in a sentence?
Here is “nip” used in a sentence: “The puppy nipped at my heels the whole walk.”
What part of speech is “nip”?
Depending on how it is used, “nip” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “nip” come from?
The word “nip” comes from Middle English. From late Middle English nippen, related to Low German and Dutch words meaning "to pinch.".
Is “nip” a common word?
“Nip” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nip” have?
“Nip” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pinch or bite quickly and lightly.
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