nibble
verb/ˈnɪbl/
/ˈnɪbl/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they nibble | /ˈnɪbl/ /ˈnɪbl/ |
| he / she / it nibbles | /ˈnɪblz/ /ˈnɪblz/ |
| past simple nibbled | /ˈnɪbld/ /ˈnɪbld/ |
| past participle nibbled | /ˈnɪbld/ /ˈnɪbld/ |
| -ing form nibbling | /ˈnɪblɪŋ/ /ˈnɪblɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to bite something with small bites, especially food
- nibble something We sat drinking wine and nibbling olives.
- He nibbled her ear playfully.
- nibble (at/on something) She took some cake from the tray and nibbled at it.
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- [intransitive] nibble (at something) to show a slight interest in an offer, idea, etc.
- He nibbled at the idea, but would not make a definite decision.
Word Originlate 15th cent.: probably of Low German or Dutch origin; compare with Low German nibbeln ‘gnaw’.
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nibble