Nip

Quick meaning: Nip is a verb meaning To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.

Meaning

To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.

More Meanings

1. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
2. To benumb [e.g., cheeks, fingers, nose] by severe cold.
3. To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
4. To annoy, as by nipping.
5. To taunt.
6. (Scotland, Northern England) To squeeze or pinch.
7. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) To steal; especially to cut a purse.

Example Sentences

The small shoots ... must be nipt off.

The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.

And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip.

The twelfth is a beau-trap, if a cull he does meet, / He nips all his cole, and turns him into the street.

Word Forms

• nips
• nipping
• nipped

Synonyms for nip

Depending on context, synonyms include dram, snifter, slug, steal, abduct, abstract.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include sip, zest, piquance, piquancy, tang, tanginess.

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