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

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

From Los Angeles Times

“This is my sister right here. I’m not saying it’s always sunshine and rainbows. Sisters bicker, but there’s no one else I would want to compete with.”

From Los Angeles Times

The sorry state of his marriage is obviously mostly his fault — and incidentally responsible for Edgar’s disappearance, when he sets off alone, unsupervised, as his parents bicker.

From Los Angeles Times

We have the entire journey to bicker.

From Literature

Bonobos don't have this issue because most of their disputes are one on one, they have never been observed to kill one another, and they are not thought to be territorial, which leaves their communities free to bicker among themselves.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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