Nip
/nɪp/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo squeeze or pinch something quickly and lightly.
/nɪp/
To squeeze or pinch sharply.
The dog nipped at the mailman's ankle.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing with a friend and give them a little playful pinch on the arm. That's a nip!
👶 For kids: To pinch something very gently, like when a crab pinches with its claws.
More Examples
She gently nipped the thread with the scissors.
The cold wind nipped at their faces.
How It's Used
"She nipped his arm playfully."
"The gardener nipped off the dead flowers."
To cut off a small piece of something, usually with scissors or fingernails.
/nɪp/
To cut off or remove a small piece.
Nip the stems off the strawberries.
💡 Simply: If you're making dinner and you cut the ends off the green beans, you're nipping them!
👶 For kids: To cut off a tiny bit of something, like when you use scissors to cut the end off a string.
More Examples
He nipped off a piece of the chocolate.
Carefully nip off the excess thread.
How It's Used
"She nipped off the suckers from the tomato plants."
"Nip the ends off the green beans before cooking."
A quick, light bite or pinch.
/nɪp/
A small bite or pinch.
The cat gave his finger a playful nip.
💡 Simply: It's like when a puppy gives you a playful little bite. That's a nip!
👶 For kids: A tiny little pinch or bite.
More Examples
A nip of frost in the air.
The dog gave the child's hand a quick nip.
How It's Used
"The dog gave the postman a playful nip."
"A nip of cold air filled the room."
A small amount of something, often a liquid or a seasoning.
/nɪp/
A small amount of something.
He added a nip of pepper to the soup.
💡 Simply: Like when you add just a little bit of salt to your food – that's a nip!
👶 For kids: A very, very small amount of something.
More Examples
She took a nip of her coffee.
Just a nip of lemon juice will do.
How It's Used
"Add a nip of salt for flavor."
"He took a nip of brandy to warm up."
Idioms & expressions
nip and tuck
Very close competition or uncertainty; requiring minor adjustments.
"The election results were nip and tuck, with the candidates tied until the very end."
nip in the bud
To stop something harmful or undesirable before it develops.
"We need to nip the problem in the bud before it gets worse."
nip off
To leave or go away quickly, usually for a short time.
"I'll just nip off to the shops."
From Middle English *nippen*, likely of imitative origin, and possibly related to Dutch *knijpen* ('to pinch').
The word 'nip' has been used since the 14th century, evolving from imitative origins and later gaining various meanings related to squeezing, biting, and taking a small amount.
Memory tip
Think of a quick pinch on your skin - a 'nip'.
Word Origin
"To pinch, squeeze, or take a small amount."