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/nˈɪpɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Nip v. t. (past & past part. nipped, less properly nipt; pres. part. nipping)

To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon. "May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress."

To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip. "The small shoots... must be nipped off."

Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.

To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt. "And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip."

To nip in the bud, to cut off at the very commencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.

adjective

Nipping adj. Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, a nipping frost; a nipping wind.

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Etymology of 'Nipping'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Nipping" Quotes from Famous Books

... February; some of the days in the middle of February being from 15 deg. to 18 deg. below the average. From the 24th February to the 6th March the weather was more moderate; but on that day the cold again set in, and the weather continued to the 26th June to be cold, nipping, and miserable beyond record. In January, on several days, the mercury was as low as 13 deg.. In February it was, on many days, as low as from 3 deg. to 10 deg.. The coldest day in London was the 18th, when the thermometer marked 7 deg.; the lowest temperature recorded ...

— The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III. - From George III. to Victoria • E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

... She'll take all his time now." He rubbed his chin reflectively, and as Bob turned to go Watts said: "My Heavens, how time does fly! It just seems like yesterday that all you boys were raking over the scrap-pile back of my shop, and slipping in and nipping leather strands and braiding them into whips, and I'd have to douse you with water to get rid of you. I got a quirt hanging up in the shop now that Johnnie Barclay dropped one day when I got after him with a pan of water. It's a six-sided one, ...

— A Certain Rich Man • William Allen White

... ruffled by the magistrate's persistently overbearing manner, inquired with something of dudgeon in his voice: "Begging your pardon, sir, what was that I heard the young lady call out just now? 'Gold!' she cries. Is it guineas that nipping young man is a taking over seas, if I may make so bold? Now you see, sir, we haven't had no orders about no gold on this station—that sort of thing is mostly done down south. But what I wants to know is: Why, if you knew all ...

— The Light of Scarthey • Egerton Castle

... saw this preference of her husband, and was weak enough to feel and show jealousy. But her complainings were ineffectual, for we can no more scold people into loving us than nature could make buds blossom by daily nipping them with frost. And yet she made her children uncomfortable by causing them to feel that it was unnatural and wrong that they did not care more for their mother. This was especially true of Edith, who tried to satisfy her conscience, ...

— What Can She Do? • Edward Payson Roe

... Louie went out to sit on the steps, and Hannah contemptuously forbore to make her come in and help clear away. Out in the air, the child slowly quieted down. It was a clear, frosty April night, promising a full moon. The fresh, nipping air blew on the girl's heated temples and swollen eyes. Against her will almost, her spirits came back. She swept Aunt Hannah out of her mind, and began to plan something which consoled her. When would they have their stupid prayers and let her ...

— The History of David Grieve • Mrs. Humphry Ward

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