nip

[ nip ]

/ nɪp /

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verb (used with object), nipped, nip·ping.

to squeeze or compress tightly between two surfaces or points; pinch; bite.

to take off by pinching, biting, or snipping (usually followed by off): He nipped off a piece of steak and gave it to the dog.

to check in growth or development.

to affect sharply and painfully or injuriously, as a very cold temperature: a cold wind that nips the fingers.

Informal. to snatch away suddenly.

Informal. to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin; edge.

Informal. to steal or pilfer.

Nautical.

(of ice) to press (a ship) from opposite sides.
to seize (a taut rope) to another rope.

verb (used without object), nipped, nip·ping.

Chiefly British Slang. to leave stealthily; sneak away; flee (often followed by away).

noun

an act of nipping; a pinch or small bite: The dog took several nips at our heels.

a biting quality, as in cold or frosty air: There's a nip in the air this morning.

sharp cold; a sharp touch of frost: The trees had felt the first nip of winter.

a sharp or biting remark.

a biting taste or tang, especially in some cheese.

a small bit or quantity of anything: a nip of bread to stave off hunger.

Nautical.

an abrupt turn or twist in a rope.
a part of a rope or chain bound by a seizing or nipper.

Usually nips. nipper (def. 2).

SYNONYMS FOR nip

4 freeze, bite, pierce, cut, chill.

See synonyms for nip on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for nip

nip and tuck, with each competitor equaling or closely contesting the speed, scoring, or efforts of the other: It was nip and tuck as to which sailboat would reach port first.

nip in the bud. bud¹ (def. 13).

Origin of nip

1350–1400; Middle English nyppe to pinch <Old Norse hnippa to poke, thrust

Definition for nip (2 of 3)

nip²

[ nip ]

/ nɪp /

noun

a small drink of alcoholic liquor; sip: a person who relishes an occasional nip.

Chiefly British. split (def. 27).

verb (used with or without object), nipped, nip·ping.

to drink (alcoholic liquor) in small sips, especially repeatedly.

Origin of nip

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Dutch nippen “to sip”; in def. 2, short for earlier nipperkin vessel holding half-pint or less

Definition for nip (3 of 3)

Nip

[ nip ]

/ nɪp /

noun, adjective Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a contemptuous term used to refer to a Japanese person.

Origin of Nip

First recorded in 1942; short for Nipponese

usage note for Nip

This term, patterned on the earlier term Jap , was first used in English shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use nip in a sentence

Valdespino ‘Ideal’ and Alvear Pale Cream are sweetened Fino and make delicious mid-day nips.
Why Maya Angelou Loved Sherry, The Drink of Brilliant Renegades|Jordan Salcito|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other than that, nothing but the run-of-the-mill little nips and tucks that are widely considered permissible.
Michael Tomasky on Wimpy Mitt Romney’s Missing Backbone|Michael Tomasky|July 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Senate Finance spokesperson, Scott Moorehauser, dismisses the whole subject of nips and tucks as a “ total non-starter.”
Are These Breasts Deductible?|Sandra McElwaine|July 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST
On several occasions the Hecla received awkward nips, and it was not until the 9th of September that they got into open water.
Notable Voyagers|W.H.G. Kingston and Henry Frith

Others spring up into thin-skinned plants, and the first frost nips them.
The Meaning of Evolution|Samuel Christian Schmucker
She comes along and nips the poor yeoman as well as the millionaire who sits in the lap of luxury.
Nye and Riley's Wit and Humor (Poems and Yarns)|Bill Nye
He was like a large dog, gravely presenting his shoulder to the nips of a toy terrier.
The Lamp in the Desert|Ethel M. Dell
In the Scottish game the punishment is described as "nine nips, nine nobs, nine double douncornes, and a good blow on the back."
Comparative Studies in Nursery Rhymes|Lina Eckenstein

British Dictionary definitions for nip (1 of 3)

nip¹

/ (nɪp) /

verb nips, nipping or nipped (mainly tr)

to catch or tightly compress, as between a finger and the thumb; pinch

(often foll by off) to remove by clipping, biting, etc

(when intr, often foll by at) to give a small sharp bite (to)the dog nipped at his heels

(esp of the cold) to affect with a stinging sensation

to harm through coldthe frost nipped the young plants

to check or destroy the growth of (esp in the phrase nip in the bud)

slang to steal

(intr; foll by along, up, out, etc) British informal to hurry; dart

slang, mainly US and Canadian to snatch

noun

the act of nipping; a pinch, snip, etc

a frosty or chilly quality
severe frost or coldthe first nip of winter

a small piece or quantityhe went out for a nip of fresh air

a sharp flavour or tang

archaic a taunting remark

nip and tuck

mainly US and Canadian neck and neck
informal plastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons

put the nips in Australian and NZ slang to exert pressure on someone, esp in order to extort money

Word Origin for nip

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hnippa to prod

British Dictionary definitions for nip (2 of 3)

nip²

/ (nɪp) /

noun

a small drink of spirits; dram

mainly British a measure of spirits usually equal to one sixth of a gill

verb nips, nipping or nipped

to drink (spirits), esp habitually in small amounts

Word Origin for nip

C18: shortened from nipperkin a vessel holding a half-pint or less, of uncertain origin; compare Dutch nippen to sip

British Dictionary definitions for nip (3 of 3)

Nip

/ (nɪp) /

noun

slang a derogatory word for a Japanese

Word Origin for Nip

C20: short for Nipponese

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

nip

verb (used with object), nipped, nip·ping.

verb (used without object), nipped, nip·ping.

noun

SYNONYMS FOR nip

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Idioms for nip

Origin of nip

Definition for nip (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with or without object), nipped, nip·ping.

Origin of nip

Definition for nip (3 of 3)

noun, adjective Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

Origin of Nip

usage note for Nip

Words related to nip

How to use nip in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for nip (1 of 3)

verb nips, nipping or nipped (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip (2 of 3)

noun

verb nips, nipping or nipped

Word Origin for nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip (3 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for Nip