bicker

¹

[bik-er]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in petulant or peevish argument; wrangle.

   The two were always bickering.

   Synonyms: spat, disagreement, argument, spat, spar, dispute, haggle, quarrel, argue, squabble, disagree

2. Literary.,  to rush or make a rushing sound, as water.

   We first heard and then saw the stream bickering down the valley.

3. to flicker; glitter.

   The sun bickered through the trees.

noun

1. an angry, petty dispute or quarrel; altercation.

bicker

²

[bik-er]

noun

Scot.

1. any wooden dish or bowl, especially a wooden porridge bowl.

2. Obsolete.,  a wooden drinking cup.

bicker

/ ˈbɪkə /

verb

1. to argue over petty matters; squabble

2. poetic

   1. (esp of a stream) to run quickly

   2. to flicker; glitter

noun

1. a petty squabble

Other Word Forms

• bickerer noun
• unbickered adjective
• bickering noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicker¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bikeren; origin unknown

Origin of bicker²

1300–50; Middle English biker beaker

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicker¹

C13: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The two are constantly bickering about everything, and occasionally he breaks a door into splinters, though he never raises a hand against her.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Macron had been wielding the unspoken threat of dissolving the National Assembly and holding parliamentary elections after his latest prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, abruptly resigned Monday amid bickering over his cabinet choices.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“Every once in a while on the court, you’ll hear, like, the bickering from a sister standpoint, you know what I mean?”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Then the show’s correspondents clumsily formed a chorus of praise that collapsed into bickering, which halted when Ronny Chieng told everyone, “Calm down . . . God, is this your first dictator?”

Read more on Salon

Playing outlaws on the run, cornered men whose time had passed, bickering and bantering like an old married couple who can’t imagine a life without each other, they’re perfect together.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disagree 
• quarrel 
• quibble 
• spar 
• squabble 
• wrangle