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
- nippleless adjective
Etymology
Origin of nipple
1520–30; earlier neble, nib ( b ) le, nepil; perhaps akin to nib; compare Danish nip point; -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.
He says that men should watch out for lumps, pain, discomfort or nipple inversion.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
“That’s it!” the nurse exclaimed, as another nurse hurried my newborn up to my nipple.
From Salon • Jan. 19, 2024
The newborn kitten quickly uses its nose to navigate toward the nearest nipple and get its first sip of nourishing colostrum and milk.
From National Geographic • Jan. 2, 2024
Ms McCrone, who had a single mastectomy after suffering from breast cancer, was given a permanent nipple tattoo by Ms Thompson.
From BBC • Jul. 14, 2023
She poured warm milk into the bottle, fitted the nipple over the top, and handed it to Fern.
From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
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.
