bicker Meaning & Definition
What Does Bicker Mean?
As a verb, bicker means To quarrel in a tiresome, insulting manner. It is also used to mean To brawl or move tremulously, quiver, shimmer (of a water stream, light, flame, etc.). As a noun, it means A skirmish; an encounter. As a noun, it means A wooden drinking-cup or other dish.
Word Facts for Bicker
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈbɪkɚ// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | niggle, fuss and squabble |
| Plural | bickers |
| Verb forms | bickers, bickering, bickered |
Bicker Definition (Verb)
- To quarrel in a tiresome, insulting manner.
They bickered about dinner every evening.
- To brawl or move tremulously, quiver, shimmer (of a water stream, light, flame, etc.)
- (of rain) To patter.
- To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight.
Bicker as a Noun
- A skirmish; an encounter.
- A fight with stones between two parties of boys.
- A wrangle; also, a noise, as in angry contention.
- The process by which selective eating clubs at Princeton University choose new members.
Noun
- A wooden drinking-cup or other dish.
Synonyms of Bicker
Bicker synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Bicker
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Bicker in a Sentence
They bickered about dinner every evening.
Word Forms & Grammar
bicker (third-person singular simple present bickers, present participle bickering, simple past and past participle bickered)
bicker (countable and uncountable, plural bickers)
bicker (plural bickers)
Words That Rhyme With Bicker
Origin of Bicker
Origin 1: From Middle English bikeren (“to attack”), from Middle Dutch bicken (“to stab, thrust, attack”) + -er (frequentative suffix), from Old Dutch *bikken, from Proto-West Germanic *bikkjan, from Proto-Germanic *bikjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to smash, break”).
Origin 2: See also Old English becca (“pickax”), Dutch bikken (“to hack”), German picken (“to peck, pick at”), Old Norse bikkja (“to plunge into water”); compare also German Low German bickern (“to nibble, gnaw”).
Origin 3: From Scots bicker, from Middle English biker. Doublet of beaker.
How Do You Say Bicker?
You say bicker as //ˈbɪkɚ//. It has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Bicker
Is bicker a verb or a noun?
Bicker is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for bicker?
Close synonyms of bicker are niggle, fuss and squabble. See the full list of bicker synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of bicker?
The plural of bicker is bickers.
What is the past tense of bicker?
The past tense of bicker is bickered. The present participle is bickering.