nip
1 of 4verb (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
E. M. Smith3
: 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
David Quammen5
: 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
Bernard Shaw4
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
Shirley Slaternip
2 of 4noun (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 4noun (2)
: a small quantity of liquor : sip
also : a very small bottle of liquor
nip
4 of 4verb (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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
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
Kids Definition
nip 1 of 3
verb
ˈnip
nipped; nipping
1
: to bite or pinch lightly
The dog nipped at my ankles.
2
: to injure or make numb with cold
A chill wind was blowing that nipped him sharply … Jack London, The Call of the Wild
Jack London, The Call of the Wild3
: to remove or cut off by or as if by pinching
Nip off the flower bud with your fingers.
4
: to move quickly
I nipped upstairs to fetch my book.
nip
2 of 3noun
: a light bite or pinch
The dog gave me a nip on the leg.
nip
3 of 3noun
: a small amount of liquor
nip 1 of 3
noun (1)
1
as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- spice
- tang
- piquancy
- zing
- pungency
- zest
- excitement
- thrill
- spiciness
- raciness
- stimulation
- flavor
- bitterness
- savor
- savour
- stimulus
- hotness
- invigoration
- stimulant
- provocativeness
- sharpness
- fieriness
- acuteness
- keenness
- mordancy
- tastiness
- redolence
- trenchancy
- savoriness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flatness
- insipidity
- tastelessness
- weakness
- dullness
- dulness
- monotony
- predictability
- insipidity
- thinness
- sameness
- tediousness
- platitude
- monotonousness
- blandness
2
as in little
a very small amount I'll have just a nip of your sandwich Synonyms & Similar Words
- little
- shred
- splash
- hint
- glimmer
- sprinkling
- touch
- lick
- bit
- speck
- tad
- dab
- smack
- spark
- trace
- pinch
- bite
- handful
- dram
- smidgen
- smell
- ray
- crumb
- ounce
- snap
- sliver
- drop
- streak
- particle
- spot
- smidgeon
- nibble
- mite
- smidgin
- smidge
- suspicion
- peanuts
- strain
- shade
- fleck
- soupçon
- ace
- spatter
- scintilla
- scruple
- portion
- driblet
- skosh
- dash
- minimum
- dose
- drop in the bucket
- shadow
- grain
- jot
- taste
- whit
- molecule
- patch
- modicum
- part
- atom
- nubbin
- section
- semblance
- granule
- syllable
- morsel
- dot
- scattering
- mote
- scrap
- vestige
- minim
- hoot
- iota
- fragment
- shiver
- flyspeck
- tittle
- clipping
- flake
- smattering
- shaving
- splinter
- chip
- tatter
- smatter
- paring
- shard
- shot
- smithereens
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deal
- plenty
- peck
- loads
- mountain
- pile
- stack
- mass
- quantity
- bundle
- mess
- fistful
- bushel
- barrel
- wad
- heaps
- bucket
- abundance
- wealth
- raft
- lot
- profusion
- lashings
- gobs
- reams
- passel
- surplus
- oodles
- excess
- scads
- boatload
- volume
- surfeit
- potful
- overflow
- embarrassment
- lashins
- lump
- bonanza
- overabundance
- oversupply
- superabundance
- superfluity
- much
- overage
- chunk
- slab
- overkill
- overmuch
- hunk
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness there's a nip in the air today Synonyms & Similar Words
- chill
- bitterness
- bite
- chilliness
- cold
- bleakness
- coldness
- nippiness
- sharpness
- crispness
- briskness
- rawness
- freeze
- iciness
- frostiness
- frigidity
- snap
- frigidness
- gelidity
- wintriness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warmth
- heat
- warmness
- balminess
- hotness
- sultriness
nip
2 of 3noun (2)
as in sip
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time give me just a nip of milk to help me swallow this pill Synonyms & Similar Words
- sip
- drink
- gulp
- swallow
- sup
- snort
- slug
- drop
- belt
- drag
- swig
- quaff
- shot
- draft
- swill
- dram
nip
3 of 3verb
1
as in to shave
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument I'm just going to nip these hedges, and then I'll be done with the work outside Synonyms & Similar Words
- shave
- cut
- trim
- clip
- snip
- mow
- prune
- crop
- shear
- pare
- bob
- cut back
- dock
- poll
- pinch
- skive
- lop (off)
- whittle
- curtail
- shorten
- stump
- manicure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extend
- elongate
- lengthen
2
as in to pinch
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the puppy nipped her hand while playing Synonyms & Similar Words
- pinch
- hold
- clutch
- take
- grip
- clasp
- grasp
- tweak
- crimp
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- drop
- spring
- release
- loosen
- free
- loose
3
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep that guy nipped my wallet from the restaurant table when I turned away Synonyms & Similar Words
- steal
- swipe
- grab
- pinch
- pilfer
- snatch
- lift
- filch
- pocket
- thieve
- purloin
- nick
- snitch
- rob
- appropriate
- hook
- take
- rip off
- boost
- seize
- hijack
- heist
- pick
- sack
- misappropriate
- knock over
- walk off with
- plunder
- loot
- rustle
- poach
- run off with
- pillage
- collar
- make away with
- shoplift
- make off with
- burglarize
- mooch
- nail
- rifle
- highjack
- kidnap
- grasp
- spirit
- abduct
- sponge
- carjack
- shanghai
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- buy
- give
- purchase
- contribute
- present
- hand over
- donate
- bestow
4
as in to rush
to proceed or move quickly I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk Synonyms & Similar Words
- rush
- scurry
- hurry
- trot
- drive
- fly
- chase
- scoot
- travel
- jump
- speed
- run
- zip
- blow
- race
- buzz
- scuttle
- dart
- step
- rip
- jog
- rustle
- shoot
- hump
- bowl
- tear
- breeze
- blast
- dash
- zoom
- hasten
- whirl
- hie
- bolt
- hurl
- jet
- hustle
- belt
- blaze
- ram
- whisk
- beat it
- hare
- barrel
- gallop
- pelt
- bundle
- rocket
- bustle
- hurtle
- motor
- course
- scamper
- career
- flit
- bomb
- careen
- cannonball
- scuffle
- highball
- shake a leg
- step on it
- get a move on
- crack (on)
- hotfoot (it)
- make tracks
- accelerate
- beetle
- scud
- streak
- overtake
- sprint
- stampede
- whizz
- whiz
- outrun
- step out
- catch up
- beeline
- quicken
- outpace
- arrow
- outstrip
- fast-forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- creep
- drag
- crawl
- poke
- linger
- poke
- stroll
- dawdle
- lag
- hang (around or out)
- saunter
- amble
- tarry
- shuffle
- loiter
- plod
- decelerate
- slow (down or up)
- dillydally
- lumber
- dally