# nip

> English word · Verb · IPA /nɪp/ · frequency rank #19,149

## Definitions
1. To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
3. To benumb [e.g., cheeks, fingers, nose] by severe cold.
4. To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
5. To annoy, as by nipping.
6. To taunt.
7. To squeeze or pinch.
8. To steal; especially to cut a purse.
9. To affect [one] painfully; to cause physical pain.'

## Etymology
From late Middle English nippen, probably of Low German or Dutch origin, probably a byform of earlier *knippen (suggested by the derivative Middle English knippette (“pincers”)), from Middle Low German knîpen, from Old Saxon *knīpan, from Proto-West Germanic *knīpan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *knīpaną (“to pinch”).
Related to Dutch nijpen, knijpen (“to pinch”), Danish nive (“pinch”); Swedish nypa (“pinch”); Low German knipen; German kneipen and kneifen (“to pinch, cut off, nip”), Old Norse hnippa (“to prod, poke”); Lithuanian knebti.

## Easily confused with
- **NJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nj)
- **nm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nm)
- **NZ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nz)
- **NT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nt)
- **NP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-np)
- **nu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nu)
- **NL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nl)
- **nr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nr)
- **NN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nn)
- **not** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-not)
- **now** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-now)
- **non** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-non)
- **nor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nor)
- **nov** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nov)
- **NYC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nyc)
- **nut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nut)
- **NSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nsa)
- **NSW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nsw)
- **nod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nod)
- **nun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nip-vs-nun)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/nip