nip

UK: /ˈnɪp/ US: /nɪp/ ,(nip)

Inflections of 'nip' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

nips

v 3rd person singular

nipping

v pres p

nipped

v past

nipped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

nip¹ /nɪp/   v., nipped, nip•ping, n. 
v. 

1. to squeeze tightly between two surfaces or points;
   pinch;
   bite: [~ + object]
   The dog nipped my leg.
   [no object]
   The dog nipped at her heels.
2. to cut off by pinching, biting, or snipping:
   [~ + object] She nipped a few hairs from his head.
3. to check in growth or development:
   [~ + object] He nipped that rumor quickly.
4. to affect sharply and painfully, as extreme cold does: [no object]
   The cold was nipping at our faces.
   [~ + object]
   The cold nipped our faces.
5. to steal:
   [~ + object] nipped a few coins from my desk.
6. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] to move quickly:
   [no object] I'll just nip out and be right back.

n. [countable]

7. an act of nipping:
   The dog gave her a few nips on the leg.
8. a biting quality, as of frosty or sharply cold air:
   quite a nip in the air tonight.

Idioms

9. Idioms nip and tuck, (of a contest or competition) closely fought right to the end, esp. with each side gaining then losing the advantage.
10. Idioms nip in the bud, [~ + object + in the bud] to stop (something) before it can develop or grow fully:
    to nip a plan in the bud.

nip² /nɪp/   n. [countable]

1. a small drink of alcoholic liquor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

nip¹  (nip), v., nipped, nip•ping, n. 
v.t. 

1. to squeeze or compress tightly between two surfaces or points;
   pinch;
   bite.
2. to take off by pinching, biting, or snipping (usually fol. by off ):
   He nipped off a piece of steak and gave it to the dog.
3. to check in growth or development.
4. to affect sharply and painfully or injuriously, as a very cold temperature:
   a cold wind that nips the fingers.
5. [Informal.] to snatch away suddenly.
6. [Informal.] to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin;
   edge.
7. [Informal.] to steal or pilfer.
8. [Naut.]
   • (of ice) to press (a ship) from opposite sides.
   • to seize (a taut rope) to another rope.

v.i. 

9. [Chiefly Brit. Slang.] to leave stealthily;
   sneak away;
   flee (often fol. by away).
10. nip in the bud. See bud ¹ (def. 6).

n. 

11. an act of nipping;
    a pinch or small bite:
    The dog took several nips at our heels.
12. a biting quality, as in cold or frosty air:
    There's a nip in the air this morning.
13. sharp cold;
    a sharp touch of frost:
    The trees had felt the first nip of winter.
14. a sharp or biting remark.
15. a biting taste or tang, esp. in some cheese.
16. a small bit or quantity of anything:
    a nip of bread to stave off hunger.
17. [Naut.]
    • an abrupt turn or twist in a rope.
    • a part of a rope or chain bound by a seizing or nipper.
18. Usually, nips. nipper (def. 2).
19. nip and tuck, with each competitor equaling or closely contesting the speed, scoring, or efforts of the other:
    It was nip and tuck as to which sailboat would reach port first.

• Old Norse hnippa to poke, thrust
• Middle English nyppe to pinch 1350–1400

Synonyms

• 4. freeze, bite, pierce, cut, chill.

nip²  (nip), n., v., nipped, nip•ping. 
n. 

1. a small drink of alcoholic liquor;
   sip:
   a person who relishes an occasional nip.
2. [Chiefly Brit.] split (def. 29).

v.t., v.i. 

3. to drink (alcoholic liquor) in small sips, esp. repeatedly.

• Dutch nippen to sip; in def. 2, short for earlier nipperkin vessel holding half-pint or less
• 1690–1700

Nip  (nip), n., adj. Slang (disparaging and offensive).

1. Japanese.

• short for Nipponese

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nip / nɪp/ verb (nips, nipping, nipped)(mainly tr)

1. to catch or tightly compress, as between a finger and the thumb; pinch
2. (often followed by off) to remove by clipping, biting, etc
3. when intr, often followed by at: to give a small sharp bite (to): the dog nipped at his heels
4. (esp of the cold) to affect with a stinging sensation
5. to harm through cold: the frost nipped the young plants
6. to check or destroy the growth of (esp in the phrase nip in the bud)
7. to steal
8. (intr; followed by along, up, out, etc) to hurry; dart
9. to snatch

noun

1. the act of nipping; a pinch, snip, etc
2. a frosty or chilly quality
3. severe frost or cold: the first nip of winter
4. a taunting remark
5. nip and tuck ⇒ neck and neck
6. plastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons
7. put the nips in ⇒ to exert pressure on someone, esp in order to extort money

Etymology: 14th Century: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse hnippa to prod

nip / nɪp/ noun

1. a small drink of spirits; dram
2. a measure of spirits usually equal to one sixth of a gill

verb (nips, nipping, nipped)

1. to drink (spirits), esp habitually in small amounts

Etymology: 18th Century: shortened from nipperkin a vessel holding a half-pint or less, of uncertain origin; compare Dutch nippen to sip

nip / nɪp/ noun

short for nipple