bicker

¹

[ bik-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in petulant or peevish argument; wrangle:

   The two were always bickering.

   Synonyms: spat, disagreement, argument, spar, dispute, haggle, quarrel, argue, squabble, disagree

2. Literary. to rush or make a rushing sound, as water:

   We first heard and then saw the stream bickering down the valley.

3. to flicker; glitter:

   The sun bickered through the trees.

noun

1. an angry, petty dispute or quarrel; altercation.

bicker

²

[ bik-er ]

noun

, Scot.

1. any wooden dish or bowl, especially a wooden porridge bowl.
2. Obsolete. a wooden drinking cup.

bicker

/ ˈbɪkə /

verb

1. to argue over petty matters; squabble
2. poetic.
   1. (esp of a stream) to run quickly
   2. to flicker; glitter

noun

1. a petty squabble

Derived Forms

• ˈbickerer, noun
• ˈbickering, nounadjective

Other Words From

• bick·er·er noun
• un·bick·ered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicker¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bikeren; origin unknown

Origin of bicker²

1300–50; Middle English biker beaker

Word History and Origins

Origin of bicker¹

C13: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The film, which premieres early in December, shows a fractious group of residents bickering over the purchase of a generator, as winter approaches.

From BBC

And for voters, the bickering has become unbearable, meaning that poll numbers for all three parties have slumped.

From BBC

We began to bicker more frequently, sometimes it felt like just for the sake of it.

From Los Angeles Times

Bass said she, the supervisors and the homelessness authority have moved beyond the bickering and finger pointing that hampered regional efforts in the past to work on a unified front.

From Los Angeles Times

Such playful bickering characterized the collaboration Gascón and Audiard developed over the yearlong process of fleshing out Emilia and her story.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disagree
• quarrel
• quibble
• spar
• squabble
• wrangle