nip

nip
nip1
/nip/, v., nipped, nipping, n.
v.t.
1. to squeeze or compress tightly between two surfaces or points; pinch; bite.
2. to take off by pinching, biting, or snipping (usually fol. by off): He nipped off a piece of steak and gave it to the dog.
3. to check in growth or development.
4. to affect sharply and painfully or injuriously, as a very cold temperature: a cold wind that nips the fingers.
5. Informal. to snatch away suddenly.
6. Informal. to defeat (an opponent) by a very close margin; edge.
7. Informal. to steal or pilfer.
8. Naut.
a. (of ice) to press (a ship) from opposite sides.
b. to seize (a taut rope) to another rope.
v.i.
9. Chiefly Brit. Slang. to leave stealthily; sneak away; flee (often fol. by away).
10. nip in the bud. See bud1 (def. 6).
n.
11. an act of nipping; a pinch or small bite: The dog took several nips at our heels.
12. a biting quality, as in cold or frosty air: There's a nip in the air this morning.
13. sharp cold; a sharp touch of frost: The trees had felt the first nip of winter.
14. a sharp or biting remark.
15. a biting taste or tang, esp. in some cheese.
16. a small bit or quantity of anything: a nip of bread to stave off hunger.
17. Naut.
a. an abrupt turn or twist in a rope.
b. a part of a rope or chain bound by a seizing or nipper.
18. Usually, nips. nipper (def. 2).
19. nip and tuck, with each competitor equaling or closely contesting the speed, scoring, or efforts of the other: It was nip and tuck as to which sailboat would reach port first.
[1350-1400; ME nyppe to pinch < ON hnippa to poke, thrust]
Syn. 4. freeze, bite, pierce, cut, chill.
nip2
/nip/, n., v., nipped, nipping.
n.
1. a small drink of alcoholic liquor; sip: a person who relishes an occasional nip.
2. Chiefly Brit. split (def. 29).
v.t., v.i.
3. to drink (alcoholic liquor) in small sips, esp. repeatedly.
[1690-1700; < D nippen to sip; in def. 2, short for earlier nipperkin vessel holding half-pint or less]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Nip — may refer to:* Nip is a derogatory word for a Japanese person. It is derived from Nippon , the Japanese term for Japan. Usage in this context probably peaked around the time of World War II. It is seldom used this way today. Heard frequently on… …   Wikipedia

  • Nip — Nip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nipped}, less properly {Nipt}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Nipping}.] [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nip — Nip, n. 1. A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas, the nip of masses of ice. [1913 Webster] 2. A pinch with the nails or teeth. [1913 Webster] 3. A small cut, or a cutting off the end. [1913 Webster] 4. A blast; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • NIP — NIP, NIPS, or nip may refer to: Neural Information Processing Systems, a computational statistics conference held annually, usually in Canada. Naval Intelligence Professionals, an association of active duty, retired and reserve officers, enlisted …   Wikipedia

  • nip — nip1 [nip] vt. nipped, nipping [ME nippen, prob. < MLowG nippen or ON hnippa < IE * kneib (< base * ken , to scrape) > Gr kniptos, stingy] 1. to catch or squeeze between two surfaces, points, or edges; pinch or bite 2. to sever… …   English World dictionary

  • nip — Ⅰ. nip [1] ► VERB (nipped, nipping) 1) pinch, squeeze, or bite sharply. 2) (of cold or frost) cause pain or harm to. 3) Brit. informal go quickly. ► NOUN 1) …   English terms dictionary

  • nip — [n] swallow, taste bite, catch, dram, drop, finger, jolt, morsel, mouthful, nibble, pinch, portion, shot*, sip, slug*, snifter, soupçon, toothful; concepts 458,831 Ant. mouthful nip [v1] bite; take small part catch, clip, compress, grip, munch,… …   New thesaurus

  • Nip — [nip] n. [< NIP(PONESE)] [also n ] Slang a Japanese: a term of contempt or derision …   English World dictionary

  • nip|py — «NIHP ee», adjective, pi|er, pi|est. 1. biting; sharp: »a nippy wind, nippy cheese. 2. apt to nip: »a nippy dog …   Useful english dictionary

  • Nip — Nip, n. [LG. & D. nippen to sip; akin to Dan. nippe, G. nippen.] A sip or small draught; esp., a draught of intoxicating liquor; a dram. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nip-up — /nip up /, n. a calisthenic routine or gymnastic move of springing to one s feet from a supine position. [1935 40; n. use of v. phrase nip up] * * * …   Universalium

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