nip

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

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]

nip, v. t. [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. knebti.].

•  To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.  [1913 Webster]

  "May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell,
  Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat,
  If I be such a traitress."  [1913 Webster]
•  To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.  [1913 Webster]

  "The small shoots . . . must be nipped off."  [1913 Webster]
•  Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.  [1913 Webster]
•  To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt.  [1913 Webster]

  "And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip."  [1913 Webster]

To nip in the bud, to cut off at the very commencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.

nip, n. 

•  A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas, the nip of masses of ice.  [1913 Webster]
•  A pinch with the nails or teeth.  [1913 Webster]
•  A small cut, or a cutting off the end.  [1913 Webster]
•  A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.  [1913 Webster]
•  A biting sarcasm; a taunt.  Latimer.  [1913 Webster]
•  A short turn in a rope.  [1913 Webster]

Nip and tuck, a phrase signifying equality in a contest; as, it was nip and tuck right to the last minute of play. [Low, U.S.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

nip, n. sl. offens. a Japanese person.

Etymology

abbr. of NIPPONESE

nip, v. & n.
--v. (nipped, nipping)
1 tr. pinch, squeeze, or bite sharply.
2 tr. (often foll. by off) remove by pinching etc.
3 tr. (of the cold, frost, etc.) cause pain or harm to.
4 intr. (foll. by in, out, etc.) Brit. colloq. go nimbly or quickly.
5 tr. US sl. steal, snatch.
--n.
1 a a pinch, a sharp squeeze. b a bite.
2 a biting cold. b a check to vegetation caused by this.

Idiom

nip and tuck US neck and neck. nip in the bud suppress or destroy (esp. an idea) at an early stage.

Derivative

nipping adj.

nip, n. & v.
--n. a small quantity of spirits.
--v.intr. (nipped, nipping) drink spirits.

Etymology

prob. abbr. of nipperkin small measure: cf. LG, Du. nippen to sip

THESAURUS

nip

abbreviate, abduct, abridge, abscind, absolute zero, abstract, acute pain, adhere to, afflict, agonize, ail, algidity, amputate, and, annex, annihilate, approach, appropriate, arrest, bag, balk, ball the jack, ban, bar, barrel, bear hug, benumb, beverage, bib, bite, bite the tongue, bitterness, blast, blast-freeze, bleakness, blight, bob, boil down, bolus, boom, boost, booze, boring pain, borrow, bowl along, breeze, breeze along, briskness, brush, bumper, burn, cabbage, capsulize, carry off, center, centralize, chafe, champ, charley horse, chaw, check, chew, chill, chilliness, chip, chomp, clamp, clamping, clamping down, clasp, cleave to, clench, clinch, cling, clinging, clip, close, close in, close up, close with, clout, clutch, cold, coldness, come together, compress, compression, concenter, concentralize, concentrate, condense, congeal, contract, converge, convulse, cool, coolness, coolth, cop, cramp, cramps, crib, crick, crispness, crop, crucify, crumb, crush, cryogenics, cryology, cud, cull, curtail, cut, cut along, cut away, cut back, cut down, cut off, cut off short, cut out, cut short, darting pain, dash, dash off, death grip, decrease in temperature, defraud, dig out, dispose of, distress, do away with, dock, dose, draft, drain the cup, dram, drench, drink, drink bottoms-up, drink deep, drink hard, drink off, drink up, drop, elide, eliminate, embezzle, embrace, end, ensphere, enucleate, epitomize, eradicate, except, excise, exclude, excruciate, extinguish, extirpate, extort, fall in with, fester, filch, finish, finish off, firm hold, fix, fleet, flit, fly, fly low, follow strong drink, foot, foothold, footing, foreshorten, freeze, freeze solid, freeze to, freezing point, freshness, fret, frigidity, frost, frostbite, frostiness, frustrate, fulgurant pain, funnel, gall, gargle, gelidity, get rid of, ginger, girdle pain, give pain, glaciate, glacify, gnash, gnaw, gnawing, go fast, go through, gob, grapple, grasp, grate, grind, grip, gripe, griping, grog, gulp, guts, guzzle, hang on, hang on to, harrow, hasten, hasten off, highball, hitch, hold, hold fast, hold on, hold on to, hold tight, hook, hotfoot, hotness, hug, hurry away, hurt, hustle, ice, iciness, imbibe, inclemency, inflame, inflict pain, intense cold, intersect, iron grip, irritate, isolate, jigger, jolt, jumping pain, keenness, keep hold of, kick, kidnap, kill, kill by inches, kink, knock back, knock off, lacerate, lancinating pain, lap, lap up, libation, lift, light out, liquor up, liveliness, lop, low temperature, make away with, make knots, make off with, martyr, martyrize, meet, morceau, morsel, mouthful, mow, munch, mutilate, nab, nail, narrow the gap, never let go, nibble, nick, nip off, nippiness, numb, outstrip the wind, pain, palm, pang, pare, paroxysm, patch, peel, peg, penetrate, pepperiness, pick out, pierce, pilfer, pinch, poach, poll, pollard, portion, potation, potion, pour it on, press, pressure, prick, prolong the agony, prune, pull, punch, purchase, purloin, put paid to, put to torture, quaff, quick-freeze, quid, raciness, rack, rankle, rasp, rawness, reap, recap, recapitulate, reduce, refreeze, refrigerate, regelate, relish, retrench, rigor, rip, root out, round, round of drinks, rub, rule out, run, run away with, run together, rush, rustle, scamper off, scorch, scrap, scrounge, seizure, set apart, set aside, severity, shanghai, sharp air, sharp pain, sharpness, shave, shear, shiver, shoot, shooting, shooting pain, shoplift, shorten, shot, shred, sip, sizzle, skim, skin out, slaughter, sliver, slug, slurp, smithereen, snap, snappiness, snare, snatch, snick, snifter, snip, snippet, snitch, snort, snub, soak, spasm, speed, spice, spiciness, splinter, spot, squeeze, squeezing, stab, stabbing pain, stamp out, steal, stick to, sting, stitch, storm along, strike off, strip, strip off, stunt, suck, sum up, summarize, sup, swallow, sweep, swig, swill, swindle, swipe, synopsize, tag, take, take in, take off, take out, tang, tanginess, tank up, taper, tatter, tear, tear along, tear off, tear out, telescope, thieve, thrill, throes, throttle, thunder along, thwart, tight grip, tighten, tightening, tipple, to, toehold, tope, tormen, torment, torture, toss down, toss off, tot, trim, truncate, tweak, twinge, twist, twitch, unite, wad up, walk off with, wet, whip off, whisk, whiz, whiz off, wipe out, wound, wrench, wring, zest, zestfulness, zing, zip, zoom

ROGET THESAURUS

nip

Disjunction

VB be disjoined, come off, fall off, come to pieces, fall to pieces, peel off, get loose, disjoin, disconnect, disengage, disunite, dissociate, dispair, divorce, part, dispart, detach, separate, cut off, rescind, segregate, set apart, keep apart, insulate, isolate, throw out of gear, cut adrift, loose, unloose, undo, unbind, unchain, unlock, unpack, unravel, disentangle, set free, sunder, divide, subdivide, sever, dissever, abscind, circumcise, cut, incide, incise, saw, snip, nib, nip, cleave, rive, rend, slit, split, splinter, chip, crack, snap, break, tear, burst, rend, rend asunder, rend in twain, wrench, rupture, shatter, shiver, cranch, crunch, craunch, chop, cut up, rip up, hack, hew, slash, whittle, haggle, hackle, discind, lacerate, scamble, mangle, gash, hash, slice, cut up, carve, dissect, anatomize, dislimb, take to pieces, pull to pieces, pick to pieces, tear to pieces, tear to tatters, tear piecemeal, tear limb from limb, divellicate, skin, disintegrate, dismember, disbranch, disband, disperse, dislocate, disjoint, break up, mince, comminute, apportion, part, part company, separate, leave.

Destruction

VB be destroyed, perish, fall to the ground, tumble, topple, go to pieces, fall to pieces, break up, crumble to dust, go to the dogs, go to the wall, go to smash, go to shivers, go to wreck, go to pot, go to wrack and ruin, go by the board, go all to smash, be all over, be all up, be all with, totter to its fall, destroy, do away with, make away with, nullify, annual, sacrifice, demolish, tear up, overturn, overthrow, overwhelm, upset, subvert, put an end to, seal the doom of, do in, do for, dish, undo, break up, cut up, break down, cut down, pull down, mow down, blow down, beat down, suppress, quash, put down, do a job on, cut short, take off, blot out, dispel, dissipate, dissolve, consume, smash, crash, quell, squash, squelch, crumple up, shatter, shiver, batter to pieces, tear to pieces, crush to pieces, cut to pieces, shake to pieces, pull to pieces, pick to pieces, laniate, nip, tear to rags, tear to tatters, crush to atoms, knock to atoms, ruin, strike out, throw over, knock down over, fell, sink, swamp, scuttle, wreck, shipwreck, engulf, ingulf, submerge, lay in ashes, lay in ruins, sweep away, erase, wipe out, expunge, raze, level with the dust, level with the ground, waste, atomize, vaporize, deal destruction, desolate, devastate, lay waste, ravage gut, disorganize, dismantle, devour, swallow up, sap, mine, blast, bomb, blow to smithereens, drop the big one, confound, exterminate, extinguish, quench, annihilate, snuff out, put out, stamp out, trample out, lay in the dust, trample in the dust, prostrate, tread under foot, crush under foot, trample under foot, lay the ax to the root of, make short work of, make clean sweep of, make mincemeat of, cut up root and branch, chop into pieces, cut into ribbons, fling to the winds, scatter to the winds, throw overboard, strike at the root of, sap the foundations of, spring a mine, blow up, ravage with fire and sword, cast to the dogs, eradicate.

Shortness

VB be short, render short, shorten, curtail, abridge, abbreviate, take in, reduce, compress, epitomize, retrench, cut short, obtruncate, scrimp, cut, chop up, hack, hew, cut down, pare down, clip, dock, lop, prune, shear, shave, mow, reap, crop, snub, truncate, pollard, stunt, nip, check the growth of, foreshorten (in drawing).

Food

N food, eating, deglutition, gulp, epulation, mastication, manducation, rumination, gluttony, hippophagy, ichthyophagy, (appetite), mouth, jaws, mandible, mazard, gob, chops, drinking, potation, draught, libation, carousal, drunkenness, food, pabulum, aliment, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, sustentation, sustention, nurture, subsistence, provender, corn, feed, fodder, provision, ration, keep, commons, board, commissariat, prey, forage, pasture, pasturage, fare, cheer, diet, dietary, regimen, belly timber, staff of life, bread, bread and cheese, comestibles, eatables, victuals, edibles, ingesta, grub, grubstake, prog, meat, bread, bread stuffs, cerealia, cereals, viands, cates, delicacy, dainty, creature comforts, contents of the larder, fleshpots, festal board, ambrosia, good cheer, good living, beef, bisquit, bun, cornstarch, cookie, cooky, cracker, doughnut, fatling, hardtack, hoecake, hominy, mutton, pilot bread, pork, roti, rusk, ship biscuit, veal, joint, piece de resistance, roast and boiled, remove, entremet, releve, hash, rechauffe, stew, ragout, fricassee, mince, pottage, potage, broth, soup, consomme, puree, spoonmeat, pie, pasty, volauvent, pudding, omelet, pastry, sweets, kickshaws, condiment, appetizer, hors d'oeuvre, main course, entree, alligator pear, apple, apple slump, artichoke, ashcake, griddlecake, pancake, flapjack, atole, avocado, banana, beche de mer, barbecue, beefsteak, beet root, blackberry, blancmange, bloater, bouilli, bouillon, breadfruit, chop suey, chowder, chupatty, clam, compote, damper, fish, frumenty, grapes, hasty pudding, ice cream, lettuce, mango, mangosteen, mince pie, oatmeal, oyster, pineapple, porridge, porterhouse steak, salmis, sauerkraut, sea slug, sturgeon ("Albany beef"), succotash, supawn, trepang, vanilla, waffle, walnut, table, cuisine, bill of fare, menu, table d'hote, ordinary, entree, meal, repast, feed, spread, mess, dish, plate, course, regale, regalement, refreshment, entertainment, refection, collation, picnic, feast, banquet, junket, breakfast, lunch, luncheon, dejeuner, bever, tiffin, dinner, supper, snack, junk food, fast food, whet, bait, dessert, potluck, table d'hote, dejeuner a la fourchette, hearty meal, square meal, substantial meal, full meal, blowout, light refreshment, bara, chotahazri, bara khana, mouthful, bolus, gobbet, morsel, sop, sippet, drink, beverage, liquor, broth, soup, potion, dram, draught, drench, swill, nip, sip, sup, gulp, wine, spirits, liqueur, beer, ale, malt liquor, Sir John Barleycorn, stingo, heavy wet, grog, toddy, flip, purl, punch, negus, cup, bishop, wassail, gin, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, tea, the cup that cheers but not inebriates, bock beer, lager beer, Pilsener beer, schenck beer, Brazil tea, cider, claret, ice water, mate, mint julep, near beer, 2 beer, non- alcoholic beverage, eating house, diner, hippophage, glutton, eatable, edible, esculent, comestible, alimentary, cereal, cibarious, dietetic, culinary, nutritive, nutritious, gastric, succulent, potable, potulent, bibulous, omnivorous, carnivorous, herbivorous, granivorous, graminivorous, phytivorous, ichthyivorous, omophagic, omophagous, pantophagous, phytophagous, xylophagous, across the walnuts and the wine, blessed hour of our dinners!, now good digestion wait on appetite, and health on both!, who can cloy the hungry edge of appetite?.

Refrigeration

VB cool, fan, refrigerate, refresh, ice, congeal, freeze, glaciate, benumb, starve, pinch, chill, petrify, chill to the marrow, regelate, nip, cut, pierce, bite, make one's teeth chatter, damp, slack quench, put out, stamp out, extinguish, go out, burn out (incombustibility).

Pungency

N pungency, piquance, piquancy, poignancy haut-gout, strong taste, twang, race, sharpness, acrimony, roughness, unsavoriness, mustard, cayenne, caviare, seasoning, niter, saltpeter, brine (saltiness), carbonate of ammonia, sal ammoniac, sal volatile, smelling salts, hartshorn (acridity), dram, cordial, nip, nicotine, tobacco, snuff, quid, smoke, segar, cigar, cigarette, weed, fragrant weed, Indian weed, Cavendish, fid, negro head, old soldier, rappee, stogy, pungent, strong, high-, full-flavored, high-tasted, high-seasoned, gamy, sharp, stinging, rough, piquant, racy, biting, mordant, spicy, seasoned, hot, hot as pepper, peppery, vellicating, escharotic, meracious, acrid, acrimonious, bitter, rough, unsavory.