nibble

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: nib=ble

CIDE DICTIONARY

nibble, v. t. [Cf. Nip.].

 To bite by little at a time; to seize gently with the mouth; to eat slowly or in small bits.  [1913 Webster]
"Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep."  [1913 Webster]

nibble, v. t. 

 To bite upon something gently or cautiously; to eat a little of a thing, as by taking small bits cautiously; as, fishes nibble at the bait.  [1913 Webster]
"Instead of returning a full answer to my book, he manifestly falls a-nibbling at one single passage."  [1913 Webster]

nibble, n. 

•  A small or cautious bite.  [1913 Webster]
•  An expression of interest, often tentative, as at the beginning of a sale or negotiation process.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

nibble, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. & (foll. by at) intr. a take small bites at. b eat in small amounts. c bite at gently or cautiously or playfully.
2 intr. (foll. by at) show cautious interest in.
--n.
1 an instance of nibbling.
2 a very small amount of food.
3 Computing half a byte, i.e. 4 bits.

Derivative

nibbler n.

Etymology

prob. of LG or Du. orig.: cf. LG nibbeln gnaw

THESAURUS

nibble

and sinker, be a sucker, be taken in, bite, bolus, champ, chaw, chew, chew the cud, chew up, chomp, cud, devour, eat up, fall for, gnash, gnaw, go for, gob, gobble up, grind, gulp down, gum, lap up, line, masticate, morsel, mouth, mouthful, mumble, munch, nip, nosh, peck, peck at, pick, pick at, quid, ruminate, snack, snap, swallow, swallow anything, swallow hook, swallow whole, swing at, take the bait, tumble for

ROGET THESAURUS

nibble

Food

VB eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take, gulp, bolt, snap, fall to, despatch, dispatch, discuss, take down, get down, gulp down, lay in, tuck in, lick, pick, peck, gormandize, bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble, live on, feed upon, batten upon, fatten upon, feast upon, browse, graze, crop, regale, carouse, eat heartily, do justice to, play a good knife and fork, banquet, break bread, break one's fast, breakfast, lunch, dine, take tea, sup, drink in, drink up, drink one's fill, quaff, sip, sup, suck, suck up, lap, swig, swill, chugalug, tipple, empty one's glass, drain the cup, toss off, toss one's glass, wash down, crack a bottle, wet one's whistle, purvey.