verb
    
    nips; nipped; nipping
    
    to bite or pinch (someone or something) lightly [+ obj]
    
    
    
    + at
    
    
    
    [+ obj] US sports :to defeat (someone or something) by a small amount
    
    
    
    always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] chiefly Brit informal :to go to a place quickly or for a short period of time
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    to harm or hurt (something) with cold [+ obj]
    
    
    
    
    
    + at
    
    
    
    nip off
    
    [phrasal verb]
    
    nip off (something) or nip (something) off :to remove (something) by squeezing it tightly between your fingers or the parts of a tool
    
    
    
    
    
    nip (something) in the bud
    
    informal :to stop (something) immediately so that it does not become a worse problem
    
    
    
    noun
    
    plural nips
    
    [singular] :a feeling of cold
    
    
    
    [count] :a light bite or pinch
    
    
    
    noun
    
    plural nips
    
    [count] informal :a small amount of liquor
    
    
    
    
    
    a very small bottle of liquor - compare 2nip