nip

1 of 4

verb (1)

nipped; nipping

transitive verb

1
a
: to catch hold of and squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points : pinch, bite
the dog nipped his ankle
b
: to pinch in (a garment)
a dress nipped at the waist
2
a
: to sever by or as if by pinching sharply
nipped the dead flowers from the plant
b
: to destroy the growth, progress, or fulfillment of
What could have been a sad story about a young star's career nipped in the bud has become a lesson in human resilience.E. M. Smith
3
: to injure or make numb with cold : chill
The wind was nipping our cheeks.
4
: snatch, steal
Some feed on insects, others on fish eggs and fry, still others on scraps of fin nipped off neighboring fish …David Quammen
5
: to defeat by a small margin
They nipped our team 61 to 57.

intransitive verb

1
: to bite or pinch someone or something lightly
The dog nipped at my ankles.
2
: to harm or numb someone or something with cold
The icy wind nipped at my nose.
3
: to move briskly, nimbly, or quickly
A photographer nipped in and snapped him dead …Bernard Shaw
4
chiefly British : to make a quick trip
One day during a brief stop, one of them … nipped off the train … to purchase an esoteric label of single-malt Scotch for us that The Royal Scotsman bar didn't stock.Shirley Slater

nip

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
: something that nips: such as
a
archaic : a sharp biting comment
b
: a sharp stinging cold
a nip in the air
c
: a biting or pungent flavor : tang
2
: the act of nipping : pinch, bite
3
: the region of a squeezing or crushing device (such as a calender) where the rolls or jaws are closest together
4
: a small portion

nip

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a small quantity of liquor : sip
also : a very small bottle of liquor

nip

4 of 4

verb (2)

nipped; nipping

intransitive verb

: to take liquor in nips : tipple

Examples of nip in a Sentence

Verb (1) I'm just going to nip these hedges, and then I'll be done with the work outside the puppy nipped her hand while playing that guy nipped my wallet from the restaurant table when I turned away I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk Noun (1) the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness I'll have just a nip of your sandwich there's a nip in the air today
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Revenue rose 6% from the year-ago period to reach $94.9 billion, nipping Wall Street analysts’ estimates. Dade Hayes, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024 Scenes from the movie might nip at your memory, reminding you of its creepiest moments and that the horrors might just exist outside of the movie theater, too. Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
However, there’s still just enough fabric to prevent your nips from poking through your clothes, and the flexible underwire prevents any uniboob effect from happening. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2024 There’s finally a chill in the air, a breeze in one’s step, and a nip in one’s nips. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nip 

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English nippen; akin to Middle Dutch nipen to pinch, Old Norse hnippa to prod

Noun (2)

probably from nipperkin, a liquor container

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1796, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nip was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near nip

Cite this Entry

“Nip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nip. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nip

1 of 3 verb
nipped; nipping
1
: to catch hold of and squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points
the dog nipped my ankle
2
: to cut off by pinching or clipping
3
: to destroy the growth or progress of
nipped in the bud
4
: to make numb with cold : chill
5
: to seize suddenly and forcibly : snatch, steal
6
: to move quickly or nimbly

nip

2 of 3 noun
1
: something (as a sharp stinging cold or a biting flavor) that nips
cheese with a nip
2
: the act of nipping : pinch, bite
3
: a small portion : bit

nip

3 of 3 noun
: a small quantity of liquor
takes a nip now and then
Etymology

Verb

Middle English nippen "to nip"

Noun

probably a shortened form of nipperkin "a liquor container"; of unknown origin

More from Merriam-Webster on nip

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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