nibble

Where “nibble” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
2. 2
   To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
3. 3
   To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
4. 4
   To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.
5. 5
   Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
6. 6
   Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
7. 7
   Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
8. 8
   To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.
9. 9
   To catch (someone); to nab.
10. 10
    To steal (something); to pilfer.
11. 11
    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.
12. 12
    To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner.
13. 13
    Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
14. 14
    Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat.
15. 15
    Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump.
16. 16
    Synonym of tramline (“of a vehicle: to tend to follow the contours of the ground with its wheels”).
17. 17
    To fidget or play, especially with the fingers or hands.
18. 18
    Chiefly followed by at: to make insignificant complaints; to carp, to cavil, to find fault.
19. 19
    To engage in sexual intercourse.

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

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: inbble,nbible,nibbel,nibblle,niblbe,nible,nnibble

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of nibble - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

Frequently Asked Questions