| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024nib•ble /ˈnɪbəl/USA pronunciation v., -bled, -bling, n. v. - to bite off;
eat or chew in small bits (of): [no object]to nibble on a cracker.[~ + object]nibbling a cracker. - to bite lightly or gently: [no object]The puppy nibbled at his ear.[~ + object]She nibbled his ear.
- nibble (away) at, [~ + object] to cause to decrease or become less bit by bit:Tax increases are nibbling away at our profits.
n. [countable] - a small piece bitten off;
a morsel or bite. - an act or instance of nibbling.
- a response by a fish to bait on a fishing line:I thought I felt a nibble.
- a show of interest that is not definite:We had the house up for sale for months before we got a nibble from a possible buyer.
nib•bler, n. [countable] WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024nib•ble (nib′əl),USA pronunciation v., -bled, -bling, n. v.i. - to bite off small bits.
- to eat or chew in small bites:Give him a graham cracker to nibble on.
- to bite, eat, or chew gently and in small amounts (usually fol. by at):She was so upset she could only nibble at her food.
v.t. - to bite off small bits of (something).
- to eat (food) by biting off small pieces.
- to bite in small bits:He nibbled each morsel with great deliberation.
- Idioms nibble away at, to cause to decrease or diminish bit by bit:Inflation was nibbling away at her savings. The rains nibbled at the loam.Also, nibble at.
n. - a small morsel or bit:Each nibble was eaten with the air of an epicure.
- an act or instance of nibbling.
- a response by a fish to bait on a fishing line.
- any preliminary positive response or reaction.
- Middle Low German nibbelen to pick with the beak; compare nib, -le
- late Middle English nebillen to peck away at, nibble, try, perh. 1425–75
- 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged tidbit, bite, taste, crumb.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: nibble /ˈnɪbəl/ vb
when intr, often followed by at: - (esp of animals, such as mice) to take small repeated bites (of)
- to take dainty or tentative bites: to nibble at a cake
- to bite (at) gently or caressingly
n - a small mouthful
- an instance or the act of nibbling
- (plural) informal small items of food, esp savouries, usually served with drinks
Etymology: 15th Century: related to Low German nibbelen. Compare nib, neb |