Definition of NIBBLE

nibble

Plural: nibble, nibbled, nibbles

Noun

  • a small byte
  • gentle biting
  • An act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken.
  • A light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful; a nip.
  • An amount of food that is or can be taken into the mouth through a small bite; a small mouthful.
  • A slight show of interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
  • Grass or other vegetation eaten by livestock; forage, pasturage.
  • A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits.

Verb

  • bite off very small pieces
    • "She nibbled on her cracker"
  • bite gently
    • "The woman tenderly nibbled at her baby's ear"
  • eat intermittently; take small bites of
    • "She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles"
  • To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
  • To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
  • To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
  • To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.
  • Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
  • Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
  • Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
  • To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool.
  • To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.
  • To catch (someone); to nab.
  • To steal (something); to pilfer.
  • 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.
  • To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner.
  • Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
  • Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat.
  • Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump.
  • Synonym of tramline (“of a vehicle: to tend to follow the contours of the ground with its wheels”).
  • To fidget or play, especially with the fingers or hands.
  • Chiefly followed by at: to make insignificant complaints; to carp, to cavil, to find fault.
  • To engage in sexual intercourse.
  • -BLED, -BLING, -BLES to eat with small bites

Examples

  • "Before he realized it, he had nibbled his way through a whole bag of potato chips."
  • "He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver."
  • "The cows nibbled their way across the field."
  • "The rabbit nibbled at the lettuce."
  • "The rabbit nibbled the lettuce."

Origin / Etymology

The 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.
The noun is derived from the verb.
Cognates
* Middle Dutch cnibbelen (modern Dutch knibbelen (“to gnaw; to murmur”), nibbelen (“to nibble”))
* Saterland Frisian nibje (“to nibble”)
* West Frisian knibbelje

Synonyms

nybble, pick, piece, knabble, nab, niggle, piddle, tramline

Scrabble Score: 10

nibble: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
nibble: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
nibble: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

nibble is a valid Words With Friends word