nick Meaning & Definition
What Does Nick Mean?
Nick is used as a noun meaning a small notch, groove, or chip. It is also used to mean a small cut or wound. As a verb, it means to jot down.
Nick at a Glance
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈnik/ |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | gouge, notch and chip |
| Antonyms | outside, disorder and disrepair |
| Plural | nicks |
| Verb forms | nicks, nicking, nicked |
Nick Definition (Noun)
- a small notch, groove, or chip
For one thing, formal chairs, beds and tables require greater vigilance on the part of the owners to protect against nicks and spills.
- a small cut or wound
got a few nicks from shaving
- a break in one strand of two-stranded DNA caused by a missing phosphodiester bond
- a final critical moment
in the nick of time
- prison
- police station
… he said to me, And how was it in the nick? Did they beat you in there at all?
- condition
in good nick
Nick as a Verb
- to jot down : record
- to make a nick in : notch, chip
… her favorite haunts are … department stores where she scores deep discounts on nicked furniture sold off the floor.
- to cut into or wound slightly
nicked himself shaving / I didn't have time to get my glove up, and the ball nicked my ear as it went past me.
- to cut short
… cold weather, which nicked steel and automobile output …
- to catch at the right point or time
- cheat, overcharge
A cry of anguish ascended to high heavens, reported Business Week in 1933, when millions of white-collar workers discovered that they had been nicked for a considerable percentage of their earnings when J. P. Morgan and partners had paid no income tax at all.
- arrest
The new owner, my brother, had installed all the window grilles and had them wired on a direct alarm to the police station so that if anyone tried to enter that way they would be nicked.
- steal
… having your coat nicked is deeply annoying …
- to make petty attacks : snipe
- to complement one another genetically and produce superior offspring
Synonyms of Nick
Antonyms of Nick
Nick in a Sentence
in the nick of time
The car I bought was cheap and in good nick.
He was arrested and taken down to Sun Hill nick [police station] to be charged.
He’s just been released from Shadwell nick [prison] after doing ten years for attempted murder.
I nicked myself while I was shaving.
Someone’s nicked my bike!
The police nicked him climbing over the fence of the house he’d broken into.
a user’s reserved nick on an IRC network
For one thing, formal chairs, beds and tables require greater vigilance on the part of the owners to protect against nicks and spills.
got a few nicks from shaving
… he said to me, And how was it in the nick? Did they beat you in there at all?
in good nick
… her favorite haunts are … department stores where she scores deep discounts on nicked furniture sold off the floor.
nicked himself shaving
I didn't have time to get my glove up, and the ball nicked my ear as it went past me.
… cold weather, which nicked steel and automobile output …
A cry of anguish ascended to high heavens, reported Business Week in 1933, when millions of white-collar workers discovered that they had been nicked for a considerable percentage of their earnings when J. P. Morgan and partners had paid no income tax at all.
The new owner, my brother, had installed all the window grilles and had them wired on a direct alarm to the police station so that if anyone tried to enter that way they would be nicked.
… having your coat nicked is deeply annoying …
I made a nick in the frame when I accidentally dropped it
the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints
the princess is in excellent nick these days
that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it
a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace
nicked himself shaving / I didn't have time to get my glove up, and the ball nicked my ear as it went past me.
Word Forms & Grammar
nick
nicks
nicked
nick·ing
nicking
nick (plural nicks)
nick (third-person singular simple present nicks, present participle nicking, simple past and past participle nicked)
Words That Rhyme With Nick
Origin of Nick
Origin 1: Middle English nyke, probably alteration of nocke nock
Origin 2: The noun is derived from Late Middle English nik (“notch, tally; nock of an arrow”).[1] Its further etymology is unknown; a connection with nock (“notch in a bow to hold the bowstring; notch at the rear of an arrow that fits the bowstring; cleft in the buttocks”) has not been clearly established.[2]
Origin 3: The verb appears to be derived from the noun, though the available evidence shows that some of the verb senses predate the noun senses. No connection with words in Germanic languages such as Danish nikke (“to nod”), Middle Dutch nicken (“to bend; to bow”) (modern Dutch knikken (“to nod”)), Middle Low German nicken (“to bend over; to sink”), Middle High German nicken (“to bend; to depress”) (modern German nicken (“to nod”)), Middle Low German knicken (“to bend; to snap”) (modern German knicken (“to bend; to break”), Old Frisian hnekka (“to nod”), and Swedish nicka (“to nod”), has been clearly established.[3]
Origin 4: Clipping of nickname.
Origin 5: A variant of nix or nixie.
First Known Use
15th century
15th centuryt
Nick Pronunciation
The standard pronunciation of nick is /ˈnik/, spoken in 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nick
Is nick a noun or a verb?
Nick is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for nick?
You can replace nick with words such as gouge, notch and chip. See the full list of nick synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of nick?
The plural of nick is nicks.
What is the past tense of nick?
The past tense of nick is nicked. The present participle is nicking.