| 释义 |
nib·ble
I. \ˈnibəl\ verb
(nibbled ; nibbled ; nibbling \-b(ə)liŋ\ ; nibbles)
Etymology: origin unknown
transitive verb
1. : to bite lightly or gently : eat in small bits
< leaves had been nibbled away by deer >
2. : to take away or conserve bit by bit
3.
a. : to trim or shape (glass) by breaking off small bits
b. : to cut (as metal) with a nibbling machine
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to take gentle or cautious bites
< a cracker to nibble on >
< fish nibbled at the bait >
b. : to make small attempts : deal with or attack something cautiously or timidly — used with at
< legislation was nibbling away at the worst abominations of … housing — F.L.Allen >
2. : to make petty criticisms : carp — used with at
II. noun
(-s)
1. : an act of nibbling : a small or cautious bite or an attempt to take such a bite
2. : a bit (as of food) such as might be taken in a small bite : a trifling quantity
III.
chiefly dialect
variant of nipple
IV. noun
1. : snack
2. : a tentative expression of interest |