nibble

/ˈnɪbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɪbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈni-bəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈnɪb.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɪb.əl/ (ame, ipa)

nibble — verb

  • nibblepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • nibbleshe / she / it
  • nibbledpast simple
  • nibbling-ing form

1. to eat food slowly, taking tiny bites instead of big ones

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to eat food slowly, taking tiny bites instead of big ones

例句

Talia nibbled a cookie while waiting for the school bus.

pattern: nibble + object for slow eating

Hamza nibbled at the cheese because dinner was still an hour away.

pattern: nibble at something when eating lightly

同義詞
  • munch

    suggests more active or noisier eating than nibble

  • peck at

    often means eating only a very small amount

反義詞
  • devour

    means eating quickly and eagerly, not in tiny bites

  • gulp

    suggests swallowing quickly rather than eating in little bites

文法句型

nibble something

nibble at something

用法筆記

Usually describes eating a little at a time, often because the person is only slightly hungry or is eating slowly. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about gentle repeated biting and may not involve eating at all.

常見錯誤

❌The children nibbled the soup before lunch.
✅The children sipped the soup before lunch.
💡'nibble' is used for biting food, not for drinking liquid.

2. to keep biting a person or thing in a soft, repeated way

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to keep biting a person or thing in a soft, repeated way

例句

The puppy nibbled Emma's sleeve when she stopped petting him.

common object: clothing in playful biting

Christopher nibbled the end of his pencil during the test.

同義詞
  • nip

    usually means one quick light bite, not repeated small ones

  • gnaw

    is stronger and usually used for harder, more forceful biting

文法句型

nibble something

nibble someone's finger or sleeve

用法筆記

Often used for playful, nervous, or repeated light biting of skin, clothing, or small objects. Distinguish from sense 1, where the small bites are part of eating food.

nibble — noun