nip

[ nip ]

/ nɪp /

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).

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

SYNONYMS FOR nip

4 freeze, bite, pierce, cut, chill.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR nip ON THESAURUS.COM

Words nearby nip

niobous, niobrara, niort, nios, niosh, nip, nip and tuck, nip curn, nip in the bud, nip-up, nipa

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (1 of 3)

Nip

/ (nɪp) /

noun

slang a derogatory word for a Japanese

Word Origin for Nip

C20: short for Nipponese

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (2 of 3)

nip ¹

/ (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 cold the 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 quantity he 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 and tuck (3 of 3)

nip ²

/ (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

Cultural definitions for nip and tuck

nip and tuck

Closely contested; neck and neck: “It was nip and tuck there for a while, but our team finally pulled through.”

Idioms and Phrases with nip and tuck

nip and tuck

Very close so that the advantage or lead of competitors keeps shifting, as in It was nip and tuck whether they would deal with the bill before Congress adjourned. The precise allusion in this term has been lost. [Early 1800s] Also see neck and neck.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

nip

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

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

noun

Idioms for nip

Origin of nip

SYNONYMS FOR nip

Words nearby nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (1 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for Nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (2 of 3)

verb nips, nipping or nipped (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (3 of 3)

noun

verb nips, nipping or nipped

Word Origin for nip

Cultural definitions for nip and tuck

Idioms and Phrases with nip and tuck

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

nip

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

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

noun

Idioms for nip

Origin of nip

SYNONYMS FOR nip

Words nearby nip

Words related to nip and tuck

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (1 of 3)

noun

Word Origin for Nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (2 of 3)

verb nips, nipping or nipped (mainly tr)

noun

Word Origin for nip

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (3 of 3)

noun

verb nips, nipping or nipped

Word Origin for nip

Cultural definitions for nip and tuck

Idioms and Phrases with nip and tuck

British Dictionary definitions for nip and tuck (1 of 3)