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nick definition

nick (nik)

noun

  1. a small notch or slit; esp., a small cut, indentation or chip made on the edge or surface of wood, metal, china, etc.
  2. a notch in the lower side of the shank of a printing type, for identification
  3. Brit., Slang prison; jail
  4. Brit., Slang condition; state a used car in good nick

Etymology: LME nyke, prob. akin to nocke, notch

transitive verb

  1. to make a nick or nicks in
  2. Now Rare to score or tally by means of notches
    1. to wound superficially
    2. to strike lightly and glancingly
  3. to strike or catch at the exact or proper time; hit, guess, grasp, etc. exactly
  4. Slang
    1. to fine
    2. to overcharge or cheat
  5. Brit., Slang
    1. to arrest; nab
    2. to steal
nick Idioms

in the nick of time

exactly when needed; just before it is too late
Nick definition

Nick (nik)

noun

a masculine name

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
nick Synonyms

nick

n.


nick

v.

indent, notch, slit; see cut 2, dent.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

nick Usage Examples

Object

  • ball: Right: Addis comes close to nicking the ball past the home keeper.

Converse of object

  • hit: He has great fitness, and the only sure way to hit a clean winner on him is to hit a nick.

Adjective modifier

  • forehand: He had finally got tired. Lincou's shot was a classic forehand straight volley nick, set up beautiful and played quickly.

Adjective complement

  • juniored: I read some of ulysses, and she then nick juniored.

Modifying Another Word

  • shamelessly: Many of the above shamelessly nicked from this forum ( thanks Gordon ). Click here to see the Wii in all its glory.

Noun used with modifier

  • backhand: In the second, the left-handed Shabana turned on his cross court backhand volley nick where Power found the tin.

Preposition: of

  • time: Nic arrived back in the nick of time to secure third place just ahead of the girls.

Modifies a noun

  • cusack: Originally posted by nick cusack " But everyone knew their jobs and I think that we emerged with great credit.
nick usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

nick quotes

OThou, whatever title suit thee! Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or Clootie.

-Burns, Robert

nick quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"nick." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/nick>

APA Style

nick. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/nick

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