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
nipped 1 of 2
adjective
as in chilled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chilled
- numbed
- asleep
- benumbed
- blunted
- deadened
- anesthetized
- numb
- torpid
- drugged
- insensitive
- stupefied
- dulled
- dead
- cocainized
- unfeeling
- unconscious
- obtunded
- senseless
- inanimate
- insensate
- insensible
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- feeling
- sensitive
- awake
- sensible
nipped
2 of 2verb
1
as in shaved
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
- shaved
- clipped
- cut
- trimmed
- snipped
- cropped
- bobbed
- pruned
- mowed
- sheared
- pared
- docked
- polled
- cut back
- pinched
- whittled
- lopped (off)
- manicured
- skived
- curtailed
- shortened
- stumped
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extended
- lengthened
- elongated
2
as in pinched
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the puppy nipped her hand while playing Synonyms & Similar Words
- pinched
- held
- clasped
- clutched
- gripped
- grasped
- took
- crimped
- tweaked
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dropped
- sprung
- sprang
- released
- loosened
- freed
- loosed
3
as in stole
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
- stole
- swiped
- pinched
- grabbed
- snatched
- lifted
- nicked
- filched
- pocketed
- purloined
- robbed
- pilfered
- snitched
- hooked
- appropriated
- picked
- ripped off
- took
- boosted
- thieved
- heisted
- hijacked
- misappropriated
- seized
- plundered
- sacked
- pillaged
- made away with
- walked off with
- looted
- made off with
- rifled
- collared
- rustled
- poached
- knocked over
- ran off with
- grasped
- burglarized
- nailed
- kidnapped
- carjacked
- shoplifted
- abducted
- highjacked
- sponged
- mooched
- spirited
- shanghaied
- kidnaped
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bought
- purchased
- presented
- gave
- contributed
- handed over
- donated
- bestowed
4
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk Synonyms & Similar Words
- raced
- trotted
- sped
- scurried
- hurried
- chased
- rushed
- zipped
- drove
- flew
- scooted
- darted
- traveled
- jumped
- ran
- buzzed
- stepped
- run
- travelled
- dashed
- blew
- scuttled
- blasted
- bolted
- zoomed
- speeded
- tore
- rammed
- ripped
- hustled
- bowled
- breezed
- rustled
- jogged
- whisked
- motored
- hastened
- rocketed
- humped
- whirled
- bustled
- belted
- hurled
- bundled
- hurtled
- blazed
- jetted
- shot
- galloped
- hied
- careened
- pelted
- barreled
- hared
- careered
- coursed
- flitted
- scampered
- bombed
- beat it
- sprinted
- highballed
- cannonballed
- barrelled
- shook a leg
- beetled
- scudded
- scuffled
- streaked
- whizzed
- made tracks
- stepped on it
- stampeded
- got a move on
- cracked (on)
- overtook
- hotfooted (it)
- outpaced
- accelerated
- quickened
- outran
- outstripped
- arrowed
- stepped out
- beelined
- caught up
- fast-forwarded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- crept
- poked
- dragged
- crawled
- lingered
- poked
- strolled
- lagged
- loitered
- sauntered
- ambled
- hung (around or out)
- dallied
- hanged (around or out)
- shuffled
- tarried
- dawdled
- plodded
- lumbered
- decelerated
- slowed (down or up)
- dillydallied