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• nick
  nick

  noun

  a small notch, groove, chip, or the like, cut into or existing in something.
• Nick
  Nick

  noun

  Old Nick.

nick

¹ American  

[nik] / nɪk /

noun

1. a small notch, groove, chip, or the like, cut into or existing in something.

2. a hollow place produced in an edge or surface, as of a dish, by breaking, chipping, or the like.

   I didn't notice those tiny nicks in the vase when I bought it.

3. a small dent or wound.

4. a small groove on one side of the shank of a printing type, serving as a guide in setting or to distinguish different types.

5. Biochemistry. a break in one strand of a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule.

6. British Slang. prison.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut into or through.

   I nicked my chin while shaving.

2. to hit or injure slightly.

3. to make a nick or nicks in (something); notch, groove, or chip.

4. to record by means of a notch or notches.

5. to incise certain tendons at the root of (a horse's tail) to give it a higher carrying position; make an incision under the tail of (a horse).

6. to hit, guess, catch, etc., exactly.

7. Slang. to trick, cheat, or defraud.

   How much did they nick you for that suit?

8. British Slang.

   1. to arrest (a criminal or suspect).

   2. to capture; nab.

   3. to steal.

      Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.

idioms

1. in the nick of time, at the right or vital moment, usually at the last possible moment.

   The fire engines arrived in the nick of time.

Nick ² American  

[nik] / nɪk /

noun

1. Old Nick.

2. a male given name, form of Nicholas.

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nick ¹ British  

/ nɪk /

noun

1. a small notch or indentation on an edge or surface

2. a groove on the shank of a printing type, used to orientate type and often to distinguish the fount

3. a slang word for prison police station

4. informal in good condition

5. at the last possible moment; at the critical moment

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verb

1. (tr) to chip or cut

2. slang (tr)

   1. to steal

   2. to take into legal custody; arrest

3. informal to move or depart rapidly

4. to divide and reset (certain of the tail muscles of a horse) to give the tail a high carriage

5. (tr) to guess, catch, etc, exactly

6. (intr) (of breeding stock) to mate satisfactorily

7. slang to defraud someone to the extent of

nick ² British  

/ nɪk /

noun

1. computing an alias adopted by a member of a chatroom or forum; nickname

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nick More Idioms  

1. see in the nick of time.

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Other Word Forms

• unnicked
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nick

1475–85; obscurely akin to Old English gehnycned wrinkled, Old Norse hnykla to wrinkle

Explanation

A nick is a tiny cut or scratch. Your neighbor might be so proud and protective of his brand new car that even a nick in its paint would be deeply upsetting to him. To make a nick is also to nick: you might accidentally nick your dog when you're cutting tangles and mats out of her fur, or nick yourself when you're gathering up pieces of a broken glass in the sink. Informally, you also nick someone when you cheat them out of some cash or nick something when you steal it. If help arrives "in the nick of time," it comes at the very last possible second.

Example Sentences

The deal raised $2.4 billion after shares were priced at $39, below the $40 to $43 expected range, noted Nick Einhorn, the vice president of research at Renaissance Capital, which focuses on IPOs.

From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026

This celebratory end to a season was also watched by Vivienne Lewis, representing the family who own Spurs, along with her son-in-law Nick Beucher, a key contact with the London-based management.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Nick Kurtz had three hits and five RBIs, Brent Rooker and Zack Gelof homered as the Athletics routed the Angels.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

He helped Nick Suzuki become one of the most offensively efficient centers in the league.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

I roll my eyes—but Nick extracts himself from the guys and follows Simon and me onto the porch.

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli