Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

nibble

Pronunciation: /ˈnɪb(ə)l/
Translate nibble | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of nibble

verb

  • 1 [with object] take small bites out of:he nibbled a biscuit [no object]:she nibbled at her food
  • [no object] eat frequently in small amounts: I put on weight because I was constantly nibbling
  • gently bite at (a part of the body), especially amorously or nervously:Sebastian was nibbling Gloria’s ear
  • [no object] gradually erode or diminish:inflation was nibbling away at spending power
  • 2 [no object] informal show cautious interest in a commercial opportunity:there’s an American agent nibbling

noun

  • 1an act or instance of nibbling: I’m distracted by a nibble on my line
  • a small piece of food bitten off: I took a nibble from one of the sandwiches
  • (nibbles) informal small savoury snacks, typically eaten before a meal or with drinks: cheesy nibbles
  • 2 informal a show of interest in a commercial opportunity: I had been trying to unload my apartment for weeks without even a nibble

Origin:

late 15th century: probably of Low German or Dutch origin; compare with Low German nibbeln 'gnaw'

nibble in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of nibble in the US English dictionary
  |  Cite

Word of the day

epithalamium

/ ˌɛpɪθəˈleɪmɪəm /
noun
a song or poem celebrating a marriage …