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..

Definitions by Sense

1. To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
3. To benumb [e.g., cheeks, fingers, nose] by severe cold.
4. To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
5. To annoy, as by nipping.
6. To taunt.
7. (Scotland, Northern England) To squeeze or pinch.
8. (obsolete, UK, thieves' cant) To steal; especially to cut a purse.

Example Sentences

May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress.

The small shoots ... must be nipt off.

And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip.

Ben mort, shall you and I heave a bough, mill a ken, or nip a bung, and then we'll couch a hogshead under the ruffmans, and there you shall wap with me, and I'll niggle with you.

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

"I tell you he's after me," hissed Cripps. "For nipping Antonio's fruit?" demanded Limpet, astonished into a normal attitude on both feet.

He had never expected to fling the soldier, or to be flung by Flea. “One nips or is nipped,” he thought, “and never knows beforehand. …"

The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.

Word Forms

• nips
• nipping
• nipped
• gnip
• knip

Synonyms for nip

Related Words

When Should You Use Nip?

Use nip when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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