nip

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈnip 

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

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• bob
• clip
• crop
• cut
• cut back
• dock
• lop (off)
• pare
• poll
• prune
• shave
• shear
• snip
• trim

Noun (1)

• piquancy
• pungency
• spice
• tang
• zest
• zing

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

Verb

This opens up the possibility of Wycombe either clinching automatic promotion before their two rivals play, or the door being prised open for either Wrexham or Charlton to nip through and set up a nerve-wracking final day. —Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025

Case Notes • After two-quarters of a season balancing between mythical and human dangers, Dark Winds nips the question of whether Yé’iitsoh is a character or metaphor in the bud. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025

Noun

The program is designed to help cities and towns provide for collection and proper disposal of nips and to prevent littering. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025

Opposite is the fat and welcoming British Library, composed of 10 million bricks, a number that merely nips at the toes of the 60-million-brick St. Pancras Hotel next door. —Francesca Carington, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

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

Phrases Containing nip

• nip and tuck
• nip off
• nip slip
• nip (something) in the bud
• nip-up

Rhymes for nip

• blip
• chip
• clip
• dip
• drip
• flip
• grip
• grippe
• hip
• ip
• kip
• lip

Video

'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

We're gonna stop you right there

Kids Definition

nip

1 of 3 verb

ˈnip 

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