Nibble

/ˈnɪbl̩/ · verb

Meaning

To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something)..

Definitions by Sense

1. To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
2. To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
3. To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
4. To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.
5. Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
6. Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
7. To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.
8. To catch (someone); to nab.

Example Sentences

The rabbit nibbled the lettuce.

His little Goats gan driue out of their ſtalls, / To feede abroad, vvhere paſture beſt befalls. / […] / Some clambring through the hollovv cliffes on hy, / Nibble the buſhie ſhrubs, vvhich grovve thereby.

I then nibbled all the red wax of our last ball-tickets, […]

Dire Ills, it ſeems! their Gods denounce in Rage; / And Garlick only, can their Gods aſſvvage. / Thrice then, each Morn, (for thrice the Povvers direct) / Garlick thou nibbleſt, vvith devout Reſpect.

A silent space with ever sprouting green. / All the tenderest birds there find a pleasant screen, / Creep through the shade with jaunty fluttering, / Nibble the little cupped flowers and sing.

Where every stream in its pent-house / Goes gurgling on its way, / And in his gallery the mouse / Nibbleth the meadow hay; […]

He would dream of Father Beron sitting at the end of a long black table, behind which, in a row, appeared the heads, shoulders, and epaulettes of the military members, nibbling the feather of a quill pen, and listening with weary and impatient scorn to the protestations of some prisoner calling heaven to witness of his innocence, […]

For the bread that you eat and the biscuits you nibble, / The sweets that you suck and the joints that you carve, / They are brought to you daily by all us Big Steamers, / And if any one hinders our coming you'll starve!

Synonyms for nibble

Antonyms for nibble

Related Words

Word Forms

• nibbles
• nibbling
• nibbled
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• nibble
• nibblest
• nibbledst
• nibbleth
• -
• nybble
• nybl

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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