51Թ

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View synonyms for

nip

1

[nip]

verb (used with object)

nipped, nipping 
  1. to squeeze or compress tightly between two surfaces or points; pinch; bite.

  2. to take off by pinching, biting, or snipping (usually followed byoff ).

    He nipped off a piece of steak and gave it to the dog.

  3. to check in growth or development.

  4. to affect sharply and painfully or injuriously, as a very cold temperature.

    a cold wind that nips the fingers.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
  5. Informal.to snatch away suddenly.

  6. Informal.to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin; edge out.

  7. Informal.to steal or pilfer.

  8. Nautical.

    1. (of ice) to press (a ship) from opposite sides.

    2. to seize (a taut rope) to another rope.



verb (used without object)

nipped, nipping 
  1. Chiefly British Slang.to leave stealthily; sneak away; flee (often followed byaway ).

noun

  1. an act of nipping; a pinch or small bite.

    The dog took several nips at our heels.

  2. a biting quality, as in cold or frosty air.

    There's a nip in the air this morning.

  3. sharp cold; a sharp touch of frost.

    The trees had felt the first nip of winter.

  4. a sharp or biting remark.

  5. a biting taste or tang, especially in some cheese.

  6. a small bit or quantity of anything.

    a nip of bread to stave off hunger.

  7. Nautical.

    1. an abrupt turn or twist in a rope.

    2. a part of a rope or chain bound by a seizing or nipper.

  8. Usually nips. nipper.

nip

2

[nip]

noun

  1. a small drink of alcoholic liquor; sip.

    a person who relishes an occasional nip.

  2. Chiefly British.split.

verb (used with or without object)

nipped, nipping 
  1. to drink (alcoholic liquor) in small sips, especially repeatedly.

Nip

3

[nip]

noun

Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.
  1. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Japanese person.

nip

1

/ ɪ /

verb

  1. to catch or tightly compress, as between a finger and the thumb; pinch

  2. (often foll by off) to remove by clipping, biting, etc

  3. to give a small sharp bite (to)

    the dog nipped at his heels

  4. (esp of the cold) to affect with a stinging sensation

  5. to harm through cold

    the frost nipped the young plants

  6. to check or destroy the growth of (esp in the phrase nip in the bud )

  7. slangto steal

  8. informal(intr; foll by along, up, out, etc) to hurry; dart

  9. slangto snatch

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of nipping; a pinch, snip, etc

    1. a frosty or chilly quality

    2. severe frost or cold

      the first nip of winter

  2. a small piece or quantity

    he went out for a nip of fresh air

  3. a sharp flavour or tang

  4. archaica taunting remark

    1. neck and neck

    2. informalplastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons

  5. slangto exert pressure on someone, esp in order to extort money

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

nip

2

/ ɪ /

noun

  1. a small drink of spirits; dram

  2. a measure of spirits usually equal to one sixth of a gill

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to drink (spirits), esp habitually in small amounts

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Nip

3

/ ɪ /

noun

  1. slanga derogatory word for a Japanese

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Sensitive Note

This term, patterned on the earlier term Jap , was first used in English shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of nip1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nippen, nipe(n), nip “to bite, pinch,” from Old Norse hnippa “to poke, thrust”

Origin of nip2

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Dutch nippen “to sip”; nip 2 in def. 2, short for earlier nipperkin “vessel holding half-pint or less”

Origin of nip3

First recorded in 1942; short for Nipponese
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of nip1

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hnippa to prod

Origin of nip2

C18: shortened from nipperkin a vessel holding a half-pint or less, of uncertain origin; compare Dutch nippen to sip

Origin of nip3

C20: short for Nipponese
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. nip in the bud. bud.

  2. nip and tuck, with each competitor equaling or closely contesting the speed, scoring, or efforts of the other.

    It was nip and tuck as to which sailboat would reach port first.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Stubbs' footwork had looked suspect to the Aussie left-arm quick round the wicket and he was bowled by one which nipped back through his defensive prod and pad to hit the top of off.

From

Australia had added just four more when Lyon was given out lbw - despite reviewing - in the third over of the day after Rabada nipped one back.

From

And with the players finished in the open-air gym, coach Johnny Sexton and head of performance David Nucifora nip in for a quick workout.

From

"I wanted to make sure it was nipped in the bud," she said.

From

It is understood consideration was given to the prospect of making an unlikely move for Eddie Howe, but Newcastle's qualification for the Champions League would, you imagine, nip that in the bud.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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