English dictionary

nips Meaning & Definition

ˈnip

What Does Nips Mean?

As a verb, nips means to catch hold of and squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points. It can also mean to pinch in (a garment). As a noun, it means something that nips. As a noun, it means a small quantity of liquor.

Nips in Brief

Part of speech	verb, noun
Pronunciation	/ˈnip/
Syllables	1
Synonyms	aces, bits and crumbs
Antonyms	abundances, barrels and boatloads

Nips Definition (Verb)

to catch hold of and squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points : pinch, bite
the dog nipped his ankle
to pinch in (a garment)
a dress nipped at the waist
to sever by or as if by pinching sharply
nipped the dead flowers from the plant
to destroy the growth, progress, or fulfillment of
What could have been a sad story about a young star's career nipped in the bud has become a lesson in human resilience.
to injure or make numb with cold : chill
The wind was nipping our cheeks.
snatch, steal
Some feed on insects, others on fish eggs and fry, still others on scraps of fin nipped off neighboring fish …
to defeat by a small margin
They nipped our team 61 to 57.
to bite or pinch someone or something lightly
The dog nipped at my ankles.
to harm or numb someone or something with cold
The icy wind nipped at my nose.
to move briskly, nimbly, or quickly
A photographer nipped in and snapped him dead …
to make a quick trip
One day during a brief stop, one of them … nipped off the train … to purchase an esoteric label of single-malt Scotch for us that The Royal Scotsman bar didn't stock.

Nips as a Noun

something that nips: such as
a sharp biting comment
a sharp stinging cold
a nip in the air
a biting or pungent flavor : tang
the act of nipping : pinch, bite
the region of a squeezing or crushing device (such as a calender) where the rolls or jaws are closest together
a small portion

Noun

a small quantity of liquor : sip
a very small bottle of liquor

Verb

to take liquor in nips : tipple

Synonyms of Nips

aces bits crumbs dabs drams driblets glimmers hints licks little mites ounces particles peanuts rays scintillas scruples shades shadows shreds skoshes smacks smells smidgens snaps soupçons sparks spatters specks splashes spots sprinklings strains streaks suspicions touches traces belts drafts drags drinks gulps quaffs shots sips slugs snorts sups swallows swigs swills bobs clips crops cuts cuts back docks lops (off)pares polls prunes shaves shears snips trims pinches appropriates boosts filches heists hooks lifts misappropriates nicks pilfers pockets purloinsrips offsnitches steals swipes thieves barrels blasts blazes blows bolts bombs bowls breezes bundles bustles buzzes cannonballs careens careers chases courses cracks (on)dashes drives flies hares hastens hies highballs hotfoots (it)humps hurls hurries hurtles hustles jets jumps motors pelts races rams rips rockets runs rushes rustles scoots scurries scuttles shoots speeds steps tears travels trots whirls whisks zips zooms piquancy pungency spice tang zest zing ace bit crumb dab dram driblet glimmer hint lick mite ounce particle ray scintilla scruple shade shadow shred skosh smack smell smidgen snap soupçon spark spatter speck splash spot sprinkling strain streak suspicion tad touch trace bite bitterness bleakness chill chilliness nippiness rawness sharpness belt draft drag drink gulp quaff shot sip slug snort sup swallow swig swill bob clip crop cut cut back docklop (off)pare poll prune shave shear snip trim pinch appropriate boost filch heist hook lift misappropriate nick pilfer pocket purloin rip off snitch steal swipe thieve barrel blast blaze blow bolt bomb bowl breeze bundle bustle buzz cannonball careen career chase course crack (on)dash drive fly hare hasten hie highballhotfoot (it)hump hurl hurry hurtle hustle jet jump motor pelt race ram rip rocket run rush rustle scoot scurry scuttle shoot speed step tear travel trot whirl whisk zip zoom

Nips synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Nips

abundances barrels boatloads buckets bundles bushels deals fistfuls gobs heaps lashings loads lots masses messes mountains much oodles passels pecks piles plenties potfuls profusions quantities rafts reams scads stacks wads wealths volumes bonanzas embarrassments excesses overabundances overages overflows overkills overmuch oversupplies superabundances superfluities surfeits surpluses chunks hunks lumps slabs elongates extends lengthens drops frees loosens looses releases springs buys purchases bestows contributes donates gives hands over presents crawls creeps pokes dallies dawdles dillydallies dragshangs (around or out)lags lingers loiters tarries ambles lumbers plods saunters shuffles strolls deceleratesslows (down or up)insipidity flatness tastelessness dullness monotonousness monotony platitude predictability sameness tediousness blandness thinness weakness abundance barrel boatload bucket bundle bushel deal fistful lot mass mess mountain passel peck pile plenty potful profusion quantity raft stack wad wealth volume bonanza embarrassment excess overabundance overage overflow overkill oversupply superabundance superfluity surfeit surplus chunk hunk lump slab balminess warmness warmth heat hotness sultriness elongate extend lengthen drop free loose loosen release spring buy purchase bestow contribute donate give hand over present crawl creep poke dally dawdle dillydally draghang (around or out)lag linger loiter tarry amble lumber plod saunter shuffle stroll decelerate slow (down or up)

Nips in a Sentence

He had a nip of whiskey.

Did you manage to sneak a peek at her nips, bro?

The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.

There is a nip in the air. It is nippy outside.

the nip of masses of ice

Why don’t you nip down to the grocer’s for some milk?

the dog nipped his ankle

a dress nipped at the waist

nipped the dead flowers from the plant

What could have been a sad story about a young star's career nipped in the bud has become a lesson in human resilience.

The wind was nipping our cheeks.

Some feed on insects, others on fish eggs and fry, still others on scraps of fin nipped off neighboring fish …

They nipped our team 61 to 57.

The dog nipped at my ankles.

The icy wind nipped at my nose.

A photographer nipped in and snapped him dead …

One day during a brief stop, one of them … nipped off the train … to purchase an esoteric label of single-malt Scotch for us that The Royal Scotsman bar didn't stock.

a nip in the air

I'll have just a nip of your sandwich

give me just a nip of milk to help me swallow this pill

I'm just going to nip these hedges, and then I'll be done with the work outside

the puppy nipped her hand while playing

that guy nipped my wallet from the restaurant table when I turned away

I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk

the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness

there's a nip in the air today

Word Forms & Grammar

nipped

nip·ping

nip

nipping

nips

Words That Rhyme With Nips

eclipsecome to gripsrelationships tips quips hips lips annular eclipse slips scripts strips lunar eclipse trips snips skips fingertipstippschips ships clips thrips dips fish and chips total eclipse grips solar eclipse whips dripspartial eclipseflips

Origin of Nips

Origin 1: Middle English nippen; akin to Middle Dutch nipen to pinch, Old Norse hnippa to prod

Origin 2: probably from nipperkin, a liquor container

First Known Use

15th centuryt

1549

1815

1857

How to Pronounce Nips

You say nips as /ˈnip/. It has 1 syllable.

Quick Answers About Nips

Is nips a verb or a noun?

Nips is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.

What is another word for nips?

You can replace nips with words such as aces, bits and crumbs. See the full list of nips synonyms and antonyms.