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Nick Very Common

Nick has 15 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

an impression in a surface (as made by a blow)

"The small dent on my car door was just a nick from that loose branch."

2

(British slang) a prison

"he's in the nick"

3

a small cut

"I carefully cleaned out the nick on my thumb before putting my bandage back on."

4

A small cut in a surface.

"The old folklore book described the lake as being haunted by a mischievous nick that would pull unwary swimmers underwater."

5

A particular place or point considered as marked by a nick; the exact point or critical moment.

6

Clipping of nickname.

7

A nix or nixie (“water spirit”).

In plain English: A nick is a small cut or scratch on something.

"The car's bumper has a small nick from hitting the curb."

Usage: As a noun, a nick refers to a small cut, notch, or scratch on a surface, such as a nick in your fingernail or a nick in the edge of a picture frame. Do not confuse this common meaning with the unrelated term "nix," which is an old word for a water spirit.

Verb
1

cut slightly, with a razor

"The barber's knife nicked his cheek"

2

cut a nick into

"The gardener accidentally sliced a deep nick into the wooden handle of his shovel while sharpening it."

3

divide or reset the tail muscles of

"nick horses"

4

mate successfully; of livestock

"The experienced cowboy managed to nick his new steer before it could bolt into the brush."

5

To make a nick or notch in; to cut or scratch in a minor way.

"The coach decided to nick his new recruit as "Flash" because of his incredible speed on the field."

6

To make ragged or uneven, as by cutting nicks or notches in; to deface, to mar.

7

To give or call (someone) by a nickname; to style.

In plain English: To nick something means to steal it quickly and secretly.

"He nicked his finger on the sharp corner of the table."

Usage: To nick someone means to address them by a specific nickname rather than their formal name. Use this verb when you are intentionally choosing a familiar or informal way to refer to a person in conversation.

Proper Noun
1

A diminutive of the male given name Nicholas.

"After his parents gave him a big hug, little Nick ran off to play in the backyard."

Example Sentences
"The car's bumper has a small nick from hitting the curb." noun
"He nicked his finger on the sharp corner of the table." verb
"I need to nick some sugar from the kitchen counter while my parents are asleep." verb
"The thief tried to nick the expensive watch from the store display case." verb
"Please be careful not to nick your finger on that sharp pencil point." verb
See Also
compositor nickname prison crosswise station nicker steal nicks
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
blemish prison cut change copulate
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
dig

Origin

The word "nick" comes from Late Middle English nik, meaning a notch or tally. While it may be related to the word nock, this connection has not been clearly proven.

Rhyming Words
ick bick pick kick vick gick hick mick sick rick lick fick tick dick crick trick click brick blick klick
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