nibble Meaning & Definition
What Does Nibble Mean?
As a verb, nibble means To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something). It can also mean To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip. As a noun, it means An act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken. As a noun, it means A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits.
Nibble: Key Facts
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈnɪbl̩// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | piece, pick and munch |
| Antonyms | gorge, satiate and glut |
| Plural | nibbles |
| Verb forms | nibbles, nibbling, nibbled |
Nibble Definition (Verb)
- To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
The rabbit nibbled the lettuce.
- To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
- To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
- To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.
Before he realized it, he had nibbled his way through a whole bag of potato chips.
- Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
- Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites. To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool.
- To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool.
- To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands. To catch (someone); to nab. To steal (something); to pilfer.
- To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.
- To catch (someone); to nab.
- To steal (something); to pilfer.
- Chiefly followed by at, away, or on: to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites.
The rabbit nibbled at the lettuce.
- To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner.
He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver.
- Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal. Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat. Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump. Synonym of tramline (“of a vehicle: to tend to follow the contours of the ground with its wheels”).
- Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
- Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat.
- Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump.
- Synonym of tramline (“of a vehicle: to tend to follow the contours of the ground with its wheels”).
- To fidget or play, especially with the fingers or hands. Chiefly followed by at: to make insignificant complaints; to carp, to cavil, to find fault.
- To fidget or play, especially with the fingers or hands.
- Chiefly followed by at: to make insignificant complaints; to carp, to cavil, to find fault.
- To engage in sexual intercourse.
Nibble as a Noun
- An act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken.
- A light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful; a nip.
- An amount of food that is or can be taken into the mouth through a small bite; a small mouthful.
- A slight show of interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
- Grass or other vegetation eaten by livestock; forage, pasturage.
Noun
- A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits.
Noun
- A small, quick bite taken with the front teeth.
- (in the plural, nibbles) Small snacks such as crisps/potato chips or nuts, often eaten to accompany drinks.
Verb
- To eat with small, quick bites.
The rabbit nibbled at the lettuce.
- To bite lightly.
He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver.
- To consume gradually.
- To find fault; to cavil.
Noun
- A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or four bits.
Synonyms of Nibble
Nibble synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Nibble
Nibble in a Sentence
The rabbit nibbled the lettuce.
Before he realized it, he had nibbled his way through a whole bag of potato chips.
The cows nibbled their way across the field.
The rabbit nibbled at the lettuce.
He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver.
Word Forms & Grammar
nibble (third-person singular simple present nibbles, present participle nibbling, simple past and past participle nibbled)
nibble (plural nibbles)
Words That Rhyme With Nibble
Origin of Nibble
Origin 1: The verb is derived from Late Middle English nebillen, nebyll (“to peck away at (something), nibble; (figurative) to attempt to sing (a part of a song)”);[1] further etymology uncertain, possibly from Middle Low German nibbelen (“to eat in small bites, peck”) (modern German Low German nibbeln, gnibbeln, knibbeln), possibly a variant of knabbelen,[2] ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gnet- (“to press”) or imitative.
Origin 2: The noun is derived from the verb.[3]
Origin 3: A pun on the homophony of byte and bite.[3]
Nibble Pronunciation
You say nibble as //ˈnɪbl̩//. It has 1 syllable.
Nibble: Your Questions Answered
Is nibble a verb or a noun?
Nibble is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for nibble?
Close synonyms of nibble are piece, pick and munch. See the full list of nibble synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of nibble?
The opposite of nibble can be expressed with words like gorge, satiate, glut and stuff.
What is the plural of nibble?
The plural of nibble is nibbles.
What is the past tense of nibble?
The past tense of nibble is nibbled. The present participle is nibbling.