nick

[ nik ]

/ nɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nick ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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.

a small dent or wound.

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

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

British Slang. prison.

verb (used with object)

to cut into or through: I nicked my chin while shaving.

to hit or injure slightly.

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

to record by means of a notch or notches.

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).

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

Slang. to trick, cheat, or defraud: How much did they nick you for that suit?

British Slang.

to arrest (a criminal or suspect).
to capture; nab.
to steal: Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.

Nearby words

Idioms

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.

Origin of nick

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

Related formsun·nicked, adjective

Definition for nick (2 of 2)

Nick

[ nik ]

/ nɪk /

noun

Old Nick.

a male given name, form of Nicholas.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nick

The incident sparked his belief in Santa, but he would have to wait nearly two decades before dressing up as Jolly St. Nick.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Internet media entrepreneur Nick Denton is a person to whom harsh judgments adhere like barnacles.
The Gospel According to Nick Denton—What Next For The Gawker Founder?|Lloyd Grove|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For Nick Offerman, of Parks and Recreation, the one is a thing: whiskey.
Swimming Owls, Jane Krakowski’s Peter Pan Live! Audition, and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The majority of it goes to Nick and Owen, to the company,” former RSD instructor Kole told me.
The Secret World of Pickup Artist Julien Blanc|Brandy Zadrozny|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Pointing out that Nick Denton writes and speaks like a literate adult and not like a 14-year-old in remedial English.
Rage Against GamerGate’s Hate Machine: What I Got For Speaking Up|Arthur Chu|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was apparent that, seasoned to surprises as they were, Nick's presence took them aback.
The Glimpses of the Moon|Edith Wharton
"Some of them make me feel as if I abused it," said Nick, looking at his host.
The Tragic Muse|Henry James
That he hath therefore at this nick of time so outraged and wronged me, it cannot be but by the malevolent and wicked spirit.
Gargantua and Pantagruel, Complete.|Francois Rabelais
"Give 'em a month from date in which to find the animals," replied Nick.
The Sweep Winner|Nat Gould
"Wait just one moment, and I then may be able to tell you," said Nick, rising.
With Links of Steel|Nicholas Carter

British Dictionary definitions for nick (1 of 2)

nick

/ (nɪk) /

noun

a small notch or indentation on an edge or surface

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

British a slang word for prison, police station

in good nick informal in good condition

in the nick of time at the last possible moment; at the critical moment

verb

(tr) to chip or cut

(tr) slang, mainly British

to steal
to take into legal custody; arrest

(intr often foll by off) informal to move or depart rapidly

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

(tr) to guess, catch, etc, exactly

(intr) (of breeding stock) to mate satisfactorily

nick someone for US and Canadian slang to defraud someone to the extent of

Word Origin for nick

C15: perhaps changed from C14 nocke nock

British Dictionary definitions for nick (2 of 2)

nick

/ (nɪk) /

noun

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

Word Origin for nick

short for nickname

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nick (1 of 3)

nick

"notch, groove, slit," late 15c., nyke, of unknown origin, possibly influenced by Middle French niche (see niche), or from it. Nick of time is first attested 1640s (nick of opportunity is 1610s), possibly from an old custom of recording time as it passed by making notches on a tally stick, though nick in the general sense of "critical moment" is older (1570s, Hanmer, who adds "as commonly we say") than the phrase.

Word Origin and History for nick (1 of 3)

nick

1520s, "to make a notch in," from nick (n.). Sense of "to steal" is from 1869, probably from earlier slang sense of "to catch, take unawares, arrest" (1620s). The precise sense connection is unclear. Related: Nicked; nicking.

Word Origin and History for nick (2 of 3)

Nick

masc. proper name, familiar form of Nicholas. As "the devil" by 1640s, but the reason for it is obscure.

Idioms and Phrases with nick

nick

see in the nick of time.

nick

noun

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of nick

Definition for nick (2 of 2)

Nick

noun

Examples from the Web for nick

British Dictionary definitions for nick (1 of 2)

nick

noun

verb

Word Origin for nick

British Dictionary definitions for nick (2 of 2)

nick

noun

Word Origin for nick

Word Origin and History for nick (1 of 3)

nick

Word Origin and History for nick (1 of 3)

nick

Word Origin and History for nick (2 of 3)

Nick

Idioms and Phrases with nick

nick