nipple

[ nip-uhl ]

noun

1. a protuberance of the mamma or breast where, in the female, the milk ducts discharge; teat.
2. something resembling it, as the mouthpiece of a nursing bottle or pacifier.
3. a short piece of pipe with threads on each end, used for joining valves.

nipple

/ ˈnɪpəl /

noun

1. Also calledmamillapapillateat the small conical projection in the centre of the areola of each breast, which in women contains the outlet of the milk ducts mamillary
2. something resembling a nipple in shape or function
3. Also calledgrease nipple a small drilled bush, usually screwed into a bearing, through which grease is introduced
4. See dummy
   an informal word for dummy

nipple

/ nĭp′əl /

1. A small projection near the center of the mammary gland. In females, the nipple contains the outlets of the milk ducts.

Other Words From

• nipple·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nipple¹

1520–30; earlier neble, nib ( b ) le, nepil; perhaps akin to nib; compare Danish nip point; -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of nipple¹

C16: from earlier neble, nible, perhaps from neb , nib

Example Sentences

You may have to try several bottles and nipple brands until you find one your baby will accept.

From Popular-Science

Even Lansinoh, which dominates the market in nipple creams and breast-soothing packs and breast-milk storage bags, and makes the extremely itchy hands-free pumping bra I use every day, is run by a man, Kevin Vyse Peacock.

From Time

In 1851, the first modern feeding bottle—an elaborate contraption with a cork nipple and ivory pins that selectively closed inlets to regulate air flow—was invented in France, pushing wet nursing to near extinction.

From MIT Technology Review

There is also a dispute about a female nipple in a post about breast cancer.

From Time

Because God forbid boys would be distracted by the slight natural erection of a nipple.

From No Straight News

But the Free the Nipple movement needs men, and the men of my generation are all for this cause.

From The Daily Beast

But neither one translates on screen in Free the Nipple, which often feels like a well-produced student film.

From The Daily Beast

I spoke to Allen, who had traveled down from Boston to support a Free The Nipple parade and to check out Boobie Trap.

From The Daily Beast

Nipple also posted the rather regressive question “Did gender equality go to far?”

From The Daily Beast

The initial responses to Nipple didn't seem to be so much about the app itself, as much as its terrible grammar.

From The Daily Beast

It was the highest peak in the neighborhood of the coast, and was called the Nipple.

From Project Gutenberg

Saying this, I walked a few steps from the place where we were lying down, to see if there was any way of scaling the Nipple.

From Project Gutenberg

In one of his expeditions over Nipple Top he chanced upon the cave.

From Project Gutenberg

There were no flat, or Peento, peaches but a sort known as Venus's Nipple was seemingly a typical beaked peach.

From Project Gutenberg

Nipple-shields, with broad bases and openings, should always be obtained.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bosom
• chest

More About Nipple

What is a nipple?

A nipple is the part of the breast that sticks out at the center of the areola in mammals, as in Dogs have different numbers of nipples depending on size and breed. 

Nipple can also refer to something that resembles this body part, such as the end of a baby’s bottle or pacifier, as in Joe carefully put the nipple back on the baby’s bottle after filling it with milk. 

Example: The department store purchased a dozen mannequins that did not have nipples on their breasts.

Where does nipple come from?

The first records of nipple come from around 1520. It comes from the earlier words neble, nib(b)le, and nepil. It is possibly related to the word nib, meaning “a point.” The nipple is the central point of a breast or mammary gland.

In female mammals, the nipple is the end of the mammary gland and is what infants suck on to drink milk. For this reason, the nipples are often more pronounced in pregnant or nursing mothers. Because nursing is a trait exclusive to mammals, only mammals have nipples. In fact, the word mammal comes from the shared ability of mammals to nurse their young using mammary glands.

Male mammals (including humans) also have nipples, but male nipples serve no function.

In the United States, nudity laws and censorship standards often treat male and female nipples differently. American men are allowed to be shirtless in public and male nipples can be shown in the media. Some state laws and many local ordinances, however, ban American women from exposing their nipples in public, and female nipples are often censored in American media. This can make it difficult for a woman to feed her child in public.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to nipple?

• nippleless (adjective)

What are some synonyms for nipple?

• teat

What are some words that share a root or word element with nipple? 

• nipple line
• nipple shield
• nipplewort

What are some words that often get used in discussing nipple?

• breast
• milk
• bottle
• pacifier

How is nipple used in real life?

The word nipple is used to refer to a part of the body. As you might expect, this word is often used in discussions and descriptions of material that is not considered appropriate for children.

If you have/had your nipples pierced, would you recommend it or no? Like how had does it hurt

— Javia 🤎🀄️ (IG: @JaeAlissa) (@jaealissa_) October 25, 2020

Why are dogs bald on their stomachs ??? Cats have so much tummy fur and dogs r just bald & have their nipples out

— micica. (@Micica_) October 23, 2020

I tried with a bottle, but my guy prefers sippy and open cups! He’s almost 17 months now. I think it was nipple confusion but he still nurses when he wants too.

— kodi (@kodimacneil67) June 2, 2021