nip

¹nip

verb \ˈnip\

nippednip·ping

Definition of NIP

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 (as a garment) <a dress nipped at the waist>

2

a : to sever by or as if by pinching sharply

b : to destroy the growth, progress, or fulfillment of <nipped in the bud>

3

: to injure or make numb with cold : chill

4

: snatch, steal

5

: to defeat by a small margin

intransitive verb

1

: to move briskly, nimbly, or quickly

2

chiefly British : to make a quick trip

Origin of NIP

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with NIP

blip, chip, clip, dip, drip, flip, grip, grippe, gyp, hip, kip, lip, pip, quip, rip, scrip, ship, sip, skip, slip, snip, strip, tip, trip, whip, yip, zip

²nip

noun

Definition of NIP

1

: something that nips: 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 (as a calender) where the rolls or jaws are closest together

4

: a small portion

First Known Use of NIP

1549

³nip

noun

Definition of NIP

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

Origin of NIP

probably from nipperkin, a liquor container

First Known Use: circa 1796

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

⁴nip

intransitive verb

nippednip·ping

Definition of NIP

: to take liquor in nips : tipple

First Known Use of NIP

1887

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail