nib

noun

ˈnib 

1

: bill, beak

2

a

: the sharpened point of a quill pen

b

: pen point

also : each of the two divisions of a pen point

3

: a small pointed or projecting part

Synonyms of nib

• mouth
• beak
• muzzle
• mandible
• bill

Examples of nib in a Sentence

a finch cracking seeds in its nib

make sure the nib has been sharpened before you try to cut anything

Recent Examples on the Web

A couple of hundred years ago, pens with steel nibs were introduced, and in the 19th century, fountain pens were invented that could hold a reservoir of ink in a rubber bladder in the barrel. —New Atlas, 29 Oct. 2025

The remaining cacao nibs are heated, ground to a paste, and mixed with the barest amount of sugar and, if making milk chocolate, milk powder, before being transferred to a refiner. —Aleksandra Crapanzano, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025

Ardbeg House, a luxury 12-room hotel that sits on the nib of Port Ellen, a quaint town on the Hebridean island just off Scotland’s west coast. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2025

Polyphenol compounds in cacao nibs can have beneficial health effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose control, and more. —Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of neb

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for nib

• bib
• bibb
• crib
• gib
• glib
• jib
• lib
• mib
• rib
• sib
• squib
• imatinib

Kids Definition

nib

noun

ˈnib 

1

: bill entry 1 sense 1, beak

2

: the point of a pen

3

: a part that is pointed or sticks out