nib

American  

[nib] / nɪb /

noun

1. the point of a pen, or either of its divisions.

2. a penpoint for insertion into a penholder.

3. a point of anything.

   a cutting tool with a diamond nib.

4. a bill or beak, as of a bird; neb.

5. any pointed extremity.

6. Metallurgy.

   1. a piece of sintered tungsten carbide used as a die for drawing wire or the like.

   2. (in powder metallurgy) a compact at any stage of its manufacture.

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nib British  

/ nɪb /

noun

1. the writing point of a pen, esp an insertable tapered metal part with a split tip

2. a point, tip, or beak

3. (plural) crushed cocoa beans

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verb

1. to provide with a nib

2. to prepare or sharpen the nib of

Other Word Forms

• niblike adjective

Etymology

Origin of nib

1575–85; perhaps variant of neb; compare Dutch nib, Middle Low German nibbe (variant of nebbe ) beak, Old Norse nibba sharp point. See nibble

Explanation

A nib is the point of a thing, such as a spear. More commonly it means the point of a pen, especially a fountain pen. Before ball points were invented, a common student problem was a pen with a broken nib. The word nib comes from a 16th century word meaning the beak of a bird. In more modern times, nib has come to refer to the pieces of the cocoa bean that remain after it has been hulled, roasted, and crushed. Cocoa nibs are the very essence of what we think as chocolate, and yet, ironically, the cocoa nib needs sugar and cocoa butter to temper its bitterness.

Example Sentences

Writing with the German-made pen, Tepper says, is “almost like riding a wild horse” because it’s a larger pen with an extremely smooth nib.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

Baynton created a new pen nib specifically for the inked outlines, and the team used real animals as reference for their movements.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2023

For the book, Sam also shared three more riffs: raspberry-cardamom, banana-cacao nib, and nutty multigrain — with leftover grains like quinoa or farro swirled in.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2023

Then carve the outline with the Speedball Lino, V nib.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 17, 2022

I listened to the scratch of the pen’s nib and burned with curiosity.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• element
• footprint
• fragment
• hint
• indication
• particle
• proof
• relic
• remains
• remnant
• shred
• smell
• speck
• strain
• taste
• tinge
• touch
• vestige
• whiff