nibble

/ˈnɪbəl/

/ˈnɪbəl/

Other forms: nibbling; nibbled; nibbles

To nibble is to eat in tiny bites. If you nibble your chocolate chip cookie while your sister gobbles hers quickly, yours will last much longer.

Your pet rabbit probably nibbles on the carrots you give him, and he might even nibble, or bite very softly, on your fingers. Any one of these gentle or small bites can be called a nibble. The word probably stems from the Low German nibbeln, "to gnaw."

Definitions of nibble

1. verb

   bite off very small pieces
   “She nibbled on her cracker”

   type of:

   bite, seize with teeth

   to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
2. verb

   bite gently
   “The woman tenderly nibbled at her baby's ear”

   type of:

   bite, seize with teeth

   to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
3. verb

   eat intermittently; take small bites of
   “She never eats a full meal--she just nibbles”

   synonyms: pick, piece

   type of:

   eat

   take in solid food
4. noun

   a small byte
   synonyms: nybble

   type of:

   computer memory unit

   a unit for measuring computer memory
5. noun

   gentle biting
   type of:

   bite, chomp

   the act of gripping or chewing off with the teeth and jaws