Pronunciation: /nɪp/
noun a sharp or biting quality in the air or in a drink
A1 Be careful not to get a nip from the puppy's sharp teeth.
A2 The cold wind gave me a little nip on my cheeks.
B1 I felt a sharp nip on my ankle and realized I had been bitten by a mosquito.
B2 The dog gave a playful nip at the child's sleeve.
C1 The chef added a nip of salt to enhance the flavor of the dish.
C2 She felt a sudden nip of nostalgia as she walked past her old school.
verb to move quickly or sharply
A1 The puppy tried to nip at my shoelaces.
A2 Be careful when you handle the crab, it might nip you.
B1 The cold wind nipped at my cheeks as I walked home.
B2 I felt a sharp nip on my hand as I reached into the fish tank.
C1 The dog nipped at the intruder, protecting its owner.
C2 The boxer was disqualified for nipping his opponent during the match.
formal The cat gave a quick nip to the mouse before letting it go.
informal I felt a little nip in the air as I walked outside.
slang I'll just take a quick nip of this whiskey before we head out.
figurative His sharp words felt like a emotional nip to her heart.
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