nick

¹

[ nik ]

noun

1. a small notch, groove, chip, or the like, cut into or existing in something.
2. a hollow place produced in an edge or surface, as of a dish, by breaking, chipping, or the like:

   I didn't notice those tiny nicks in the vase when I bought it.

3. a small dent or wound.
4. a small groove on one side of the shank of a printing type, serving as a guide in setting or to distinguish different types.
5. Biochemistry. a break in one strand of a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule.
6. British Slang. prison.

verb (used with object)

1. to cut into or through:

   I nicked my chin while shaving.

2. to hit or injure slightly.
3. to make a nick or nicks in (something); notch, groove, or chip.
4. to record by means of a notch or notches.
5. to incise certain tendons at the root of (a horse's tail) to give it a higher carrying position; make an incision under the tail of (a horse).
6. to hit, guess, catch, etc., exactly.
7. Slang. to trick, cheat, or defraud:

   How much did they nick you for that suit?

8. British Slang.
   1. to arrest (a criminal or suspect).
   2. to capture; nab.
   3. to steal:

      Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.

Nick

²

[ nik ]

noun

1. Old Nick.
2. a male given name, form of Nicholas.

nick

¹

/ nɪk /

noun

1. computing an alias adopted by a member of a chatroom or forum; nickname

nick

²

/ nɪk /

noun

1. a small notch or indentation on an edge or surface
2. a groove on the shank of a printing type, used to orientate type and often to distinguish the fount
3. a slang word for prison police station
4. in good nick informal.
   in good condition
5. in the nick of time
   at the last possible moment; at the critical moment

verb

1. tr to chip or cut
2. slang.
   tr
   1. to steal
   2. to take into legal custody; arrest
3. informal.
   introften foll byoff to move or depart rapidly
4. to divide and reset (certain of the tail muscles of a horse) to give the tail a high carriage
5. tr to guess, catch, etc, exactly
6. intr (of breeding stock) to mate satisfactorily
7. nick someone for slang.
   to defraud someone to the extent of

Other Words From

• un·nicked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nick¹

1475–85; obscurely akin to Old English gehnycned wrinkled, Old Norse hnykla to wrinkle

Word History and Origins

Origin of nick¹

short for nickname

Origin of nick²

C15: perhaps changed from C14 nocke nock

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the nick of time, at the right or vital moment, usually at the last possible moment:

   The fire engines arrived in the nick of time.

More idioms and phrases containing nick

see in the nick of time .

Example Sentences

Or do you recognize it as part of your vulnerability, a little nick at your ego?

From Los Angeles Times

While the defence looked in good nick against New Zealand, it was markedly porous against the Wallabies.

From BBC

The assassination attempt — where the FBI says a bullet nicked Trump’s ear — produced one of the most compelling political images in modern politics, when a bloodied Trump raised his fist defiantly.

From Los Angeles Times

One nicked the Republican presidential candidate's ear and one killed a rally attendee.

From BBC

Head was caught at extra cover for 31 and Short nicked behind on 58 but their onslaught had put Australia well ahead of the game with rain clouds looming.

From BBC