nibbling









nibbling


verb (used without object), nib·bled, nib·bling.

  1. to bite off small bits.
  2. to eat or chew in small bites: Give him a graham cracker to nibble on.
  3. to bite, eat, or chew gently and in small amounts (usually followed by at): She was so upset she could only nibble at her food.

verb (used with object), nib·bled, nib·bling.

  1. to bite off small bits of (something).
  2. to eat (food) by biting off small pieces.
  3. to bite in small bits: He nibbled each morsel with great deliberation.

noun

  1. a small morsel or bit: Each nibble was eaten with the air of an epicure.
  2. an act or instance of nibbling.
  3. a response by a fish to bait on a fishing line.
  4. any preliminary positive response or reaction.

Idioms

  1. nibble away at, to cause to decrease or diminish bit by bit: Inflation was nibbling away at her savings. The rains nibbled at the loam.Also nibble at.

verb (when intr, often foll by at)

  1. (esp of animals, such as mice) to take small repeated bites (of)
  2. to take dainty or tentative bitesto nibble at a cake
  3. to bite (at) gently or caressingly
  4. (intr) to make petty criticisms
  5. (intr) to consider tentatively or cautiouslyto nibble at an idea

noun

  1. a small mouthful
  2. an instance or the act of nibbling
  3. (plural) informal small items of food, esp savouries, usually served with drinks

n.1650s, “act of nibbling,” from nibble (v.). As “a small bite,” from 1838. v.“to bite gently,” c.1500, perhaps from Low German nibbeln “to nibble, gnaw,” related to Middle Low German nibbelen, Middle Dutch knibbelen “to gnaw,” source of Dutch knibbelen “to cavail, squabble.” Related: Nibbled; nibbling.

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