nibble

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• Received-Pronunciation: /ˈnɪbl̩/
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• Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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• General-American: /ˈnɪb(ə)l/
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• rhymes with -ɪbəl
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• CMU ARPABET: N IH1 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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The verb is derived from Late Middle English nebillen, nebyll (“to peck away at (something), nibble; (figurative) to attempt to sing (a part of a song)”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Middle Low German nibbelen (“to eat in small bites, peck”) (modern German Low German nibbeln, gnibbeln, knibbeln), possibly a variant of knabbelen, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gnet- (“to press”) or imitative. The noun is derived from the verb. Cognates * Middle Dutch cnibbelen (modern Dutch knibbelen (“to gnaw; to murmur”), nibbelen (“to nibble”)) * Saterland Frisian nibje (“to nibble”) * West Frisian knibbelje

A pun on the homophony of byte and bite.

125 source translations are retained for this English entry.

• Bulgarian: хапка (hapka) — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Chinese Mandarin: 輕咬 /轻咬 — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Esperanto: mordeto — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Finnish: näykkäisy — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Galician: chancho — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Galician: petisco — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Galician: tanisco — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Galician: trabadela — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Galician: chantada — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Greek: τσιμπολόγημα (tsimpológima) — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Hungarian: falat — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Italian: boccone — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Italian: bocconcino — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Italian: morsetto — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Italian: morso — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Māori: tongi — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Portuguese: mordisco — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Portuguese: beliscada — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Spanish: mordisco — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Spanish: mordisqueo — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Turkish: dişleme — act of taking a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, especially with the front teeth; the bite or bites so taken
• Esperanto: mordeto — light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful — see also nip
• Finnish: näykkäisy — light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful — see also nip
• Finnish: puraisu — light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful — see also nip
• Spanish: mordisco — light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful — see also nip
• Spanish: ñangazo — light bite of a person or animal, or part of their body, especially one which is loving or playful — see also nip
• Finnish: haukkaus — amount of food that is or can be taken into the mouth through a small bite
• Finnish: lievä kiinnostus — slight show of interest in something
• Azerbaijani: yarımbayt — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Czech: nibble — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Dutch: nibble — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Finnish: puolitavu — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• French: nibble — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• French: quartet — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• French: semioctet — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• French: tétrade — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• German: Nibble — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Greek: ημιψηφιόλεξη (imipsifiólexi) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Italian: semibyte — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Italian: unità di 4 bit — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Japanese: ニブル (niburu) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Portuguese: nibble — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Russian: полуба́йт (polubájt) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Russian: тетра́да (tetráda) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Russian: ниббл (nibbl) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Swedish: nibble — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Ukrainian: напівба́йт (napivbájt) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Ukrainian: тетра́да (tetráda) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Ukrainian: ніббл (nibbl) — unit of memory equal to half a byte, or chiefly four bits
• Amharic: ሸራረፈ (šäraräfä) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Arabic: قَضَمَ (qaḍama) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Armenian: կրծել (krcel) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Central Bikol: timutimo — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Bulgarian: гриза (griza) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Bulgarian: отхапвам (othapvam) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Chinese Mandarin: 一點一點地吃 /一点一点地吃 (yīdiǎn yīdiǎn de chī) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Czech: hlodat — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Czech: ohlodávat — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Czech: okusovat — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Dutch: knabbelen — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Esperanto: mordeti — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Esperanto: ronĝi — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Esperanto: manĝeti — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Finnish: näykkiä — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• French: grignoter — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Galician: amosegar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Galician: beliscar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Galician: comichar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Galician: petiscar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• German: knabbern — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Greek: περιτρώγω (peritrógo) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Greek: ροκανίζω (rokanízo) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Greek: τσιμπολογώ (tsimpologó) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Ancient Greek: χναύω (khnaúō) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Hebrew: נִשְׁנֵשׁ (nishnésh) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Hungarian: majszol — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Ingrian: tahmia — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Italian: mordicchiare — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Italian: rosicare — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Italian: rosicchiare — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Khmer: ចឹក (cək) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Khmer: កកេរ (kɑkee) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Khmer: ទែះ (t) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Latvian: knibināt — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Lushootseed: ʔiʔɬəd — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Māori: kai whakapītaitai — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Māori: kōhonihoni — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Mongolian: мэрэх (merex) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Portuguese: comiscar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Portuguese: mordiscar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Russian: грызть (gryztʹ) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Scottish Gaelic: criom — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: apolillar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: carcomer — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: chancomer — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: comisquear — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: comichear — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: comiscar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: mordisquear — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: picotear — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: roer — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Spanish: rosigar — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Swedish: knapra — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Turkish: dişlemek — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Ottoman Turkish: دیشلمك (dişlemek) — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Vietnamese: nhấm nháp — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Vietnamese: nhâm nhi — (transitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites, of (something); (intransitive) to take a small, quick bite, or several of such bites; to eat (at frequent intervals) with small, quick bites
• Chinese Mandarin: 輕咬 /轻咬 — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Esperanto: mordeti — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Finnish: näykkäistä — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Galician: amordicar — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Italian: mordicchiare — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Japanese: 甘噛みする (amagami suru) — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Portuguese: mordiscar — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Spanish: chancomer — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Spanish: mordisquear — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Ottoman Turkish: دیشلمك (dişlemek) — (transitive) to lightly bite (a person or animal, or part of their body), especially in a loving or playful manner; (intransitive) to lightly bite, especially in a loving or playful manner — see also nip
• Finnish: näykkiä — to make (a hole in something) through small bites
• Finnish: purra — to make (a hole in something) through small bites
• Finnish: näykkiä — to make (one’s way) through or while taking small bites
• Finnish: purra — to make (one’s way) through or while taking small bites
• Finnish: nakertaa — to cause (something) to be in a certain state through small bites
• Finnish: nakertaa — to remove (something) through small bites; to remove (small pieces) from glass, tile, etc., with a tool; to remove small pieces from (glass, tile, etc.) with a tool
• Finnish: osoittaa kiinnostusta (lievää) — to show slight interest in something
• Finnish: huitaista — of a batter: to make an indecisive attempt to bat a ball bowled outside the off stump