nip

Meaning

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. (obsolete) To steal; especially to cut a purse.
9. (obsolete) To affect [one] painfully; to cause physical pain.'

pinch

bite

snip off

bite into

gelidity

frigidity

grip with teeth

frozeness

nip off

frost-bite

scratch off

snap at

thinning out

hold tightly

pinch back

help oneself to

thin-out

pinch-out

Frequency

Pronounced as (IPA)

/nɪp/

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.