nibble UK /ˈnɪbl̩/US /ˈnɪb(ə)l/verb 19noun 6forms 5 verb19 •To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).The rabbit nibbled the lettuce. •To make (a hole in something) through small bites. •To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.Before he realized it, he had nibbled his way through a whole bag of potato chips.The cows nibbled their way across the field. •Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.The bases of the smaller trees were nibbled bare by rabbits, […] — 1886 •Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.Am I reiected, all my baites nibled off, / And not the fish caught? — 1614 •Chiefly followed by at, away, or on: to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites.The rabbit nibbled at the lettuce. •To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.My hand, as it hangs down, thou nibblest tenderly, […] — 1837 •To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner.He nibbled at my neck and made me shiver. •To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool. •(figurative) Followed by away at: to reduce or use up gradually; to eat.A report out this week from the National Consumer Law Center lays out a host of ways in which banks nibble away at jobless benefits with fees the center called "junk." — 2011 •(figurative) Chiefly followed by at: to show slight interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.[W]hy mouse, thy minde is nibbling at something, vvhats ist, vvhat lyes vpon thy Stomach? — 1607 •(figurative) Synonym of tramline (“of a vehicle: to tend to follow the contours of the ground with its wheels”). •(informal, figurative) Followed by at: of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump. •(no longer used) To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.Ellen stood dumb and motionless, looking steadfastly down at the hem of her green jerkin, which she was nibbling with both her hands. — 1827 •(no longer used) To fidget or play, especially with the fingers or hands. •(no longer used) Chiefly followed by at: to make insignificant complaints; to carp, to cavil, to find fault.Nay more, have not some of their devoted Schollers begun, I need to saw to nibble, but openly to argue against the Kings Supremacie? — 1641 •(slang, no longer used) To steal (something); to pilfer. •(slang, no longer used) To catch (someone); to nab.[T]he Roague has spied me novv, hee nibled me finely once too; […] — 1604 •(slang, no longer used) To engage in sexual intercourse.Hart I vvould giue but too much money to be nibling vvith that vvench, […] — 1607 noun6 •An act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken.[H]e would sit on a wet rock, with a rod as long and heavy as a Tartar's lance, and fish all day without a murmur, even though he should not be encouraged by a single nibble. — 1819 •A light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful; a nip. •An amount of food that is or can be taken into the mouth through a small bite; a small mouthful.Yo'r sheep will be a' folded, a reckon, Measter Pratt, for there'll ne'er be a nibble o' grass to be seen this two month, according to my reading; […] — 1863 •(figurative) A slight show of interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal. •A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits.At every negative-going transition it reads a 4-bit ADPCM nybble (there are 2 nybbles per byte) and stores it in a memory-resident table. — 1983 •(no longer used, rare) Grass or other vegetation eaten by livestock; forage, pasturage.On the northern slopes of the light-earthed hills the moss had come over the herbage, and the sweet nibble of the sheep was souring. — 1875 formsnibbled · nibbling · nibbles · nibbleth · nibblest
