nibble
To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, ofTo take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
» Tom is nibbling on a carrot stick.
Meaning
19 senses(transitive)To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
The rabbit nibbled the lettuce.
eat intermittently; take small bites of
(transitive)To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
(transitive)To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
(transitive)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.
The cows nibbled their way across the field.
(transitive)Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
(transitive)Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
bite off very small pieces
Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
(transitive)To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool.
(intransitive)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.
knabbern
грызтьgryztʹ
(intransitive)To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner.
He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver.
bite gently
(figuratively, intransitive)Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
(figuratively, intransitive)Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat.
(figuratively, informal, intransitive)Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump.
Examples
34 sentencesTom is nibbling on a carrot stick.
The lambs nibble grass all day.
Gabor was nibbling on some doritos.
She was nibbling the rubber toys.
I always nibble on cheese and crackers.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
The verb is derived from Late Middle English nebillen, nebyll (“to peck away at (somethingThe 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)”); 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, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gnet- (“to press”) or imitative.
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Forms
nibbles, nibbling, nibbled, nibbledSynonyms
7 synonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle