nibble

Meanings

1. To take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something).
2. To lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; to nip.
3. To make (a hole in something) through small bites.
4. To make (one's way) through or while taking small bites.
5. Chiefly followed by into or to: to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites.
6. Followed by away, off, etc.: to remove (something) through small bites.
7. To remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; also, to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool.
8. To fidget or play with (something), especially with the fingers or hands.
9. To catch (someone); to nab.
10. To steal (something); to pilfer.
11. 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.
12. To lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner.

1. An act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken.
2. A light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful; a nip.
3. An amount of food that is or can be taken into the mouth through a small bite; a small mouthful.
4. A slight show of interest in something, such as a commercial opportunity or a proposal.
5. Grass or other vegetation eaten by livestock; forage, pasturage.

1. A unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits.

Etymology

The verb is derived from Late Middle English nebillen, nebyll (“to peck away at (something), nibble; (figurative) to attempt to sing (a part of a song)”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Middle Low German nibbelen (“to eat in small bites, peck”) (modern German Low German nibbeln, gnibbeln, knibbeln), possibly a variant of knabbelen, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gnet- (“to press”) or imitative. The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Middle Dutch cnibbelen (modern Dutch knibbelen (“to gnaw; to murmur”), nibbelen (“to nibble”)) * Saterland Frisian nibje (“to nibble”) * West Frisian knibbelje