nipple
Americannoun
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a protuberance of the mamma or breast where, in the female, the milk ducts discharge; teat.
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something resembling it, as the mouthpiece of a nursing bottle or pacifier.
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a short piece of pipe with threads on each end, used for joining valves.
noun
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Also called: mamilla. papilla. teat. the small conical projection in the centre of the areola of each breast, which in women contains the outlet of the milk ducts
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something resembling a nipple in shape or function
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Also called: grease nipple. a small drilled bush, usually screwed into a bearing, through which grease is introduced
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an informal word for dummy
Usage
What is a nipple? A nipple is the part of the breast that sticks out at the center of the areola in mammals, as in Dogs have different numbers of nipples depending on size and breed. Nipple can also refer to something that resembles this body part, such as the end of a baby’s bottle or pacifier, as in Joe carefully put the nipple back on the baby’s bottle after filling it with milk. Example: The department store purchased a dozen mannequins that did not have nipples on their breasts.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of nipple
1520–30; earlier neble, nib ( b ) le, nepil; perhaps akin to nib; compare Danish nip point; see -le
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ms Thompson founded the Nipple Innovation Project - a charity offering free permanent 3D nipple tattoos - after hearing what her aunt, Pamela McCrone, had gone through, following a cancer diagnosis.
From BBC • Jul. 14, 2023
A younger feminist advocacy effort, Free the Nipple, originated with a feature-length film by director Lina Esco that's now available on Netflix.
From US News • Aug. 26, 2015
Big-game enthusiasts leave Destin on runs to DeSoto Canyon, the Spur, Nipple or Timber Holes to tangle with blue and white marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo.
From Time Magazine Archive
Big-game enthusiasts leave Destin on runs to DeSoto Canyon, the Spur, Nipple or Timber Holes to tangle with blue and white marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo.
From Time Magazine Archive
The nipples should be kept thoroughly dry between nursings Nipple shields should be used where fissures persist.
From The Mother and Her Child by Sadler, William S.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
