Nibbles: meaning, definitions and examples

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nibbles

[ ˈnɪbəlz ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

a small bite

Nibbles refer to small bites or snacks, usually consumed between meals or as appetizers. They are typically quick and easy to eat, often served at social gatherings or parties.

Synonyms

appetizers, bites, snacks.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nibbles	Informal situations, often at gatherings or casual events where people eat small quantities of food over a period of time. We had some nibbles while we waited for the main course to be served. The guests were enjoying the nibbles and chatting.
snacks	Everyday situations, any time people eat small amounts of food between meals, often in informal settings. I always keep some snacks in my bag for a quick energy boost. He loves having snacks while watching movies.
appetizers	Formal or semi-formal dining settings, often served before a main meal to stimulate the appetite. The waiter brought out some appetizers before we ordered our main dishes. We started the dinner with a variety of appetizers.
bites	Casual and informal situations, similar to 'nibbles,' often referring to small portions of food that are quick and easy to eat. She made a few bites for the potluck. They grabbed some bites to eat on the way to the event.

Examples of usage

Let's have some nibbles before dinner.
She prepared a platter of cheese and crackers for nibbles.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

small sharp bites

Nibbles can also refer to small sharp bites, especially when describing the actions of certain animals or insects. These nibbles are often quick and can be painful.

Synonyms

bites, nips.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
nibbles	Use in situations where someone is taking small, light bites, often delicately and without consuming much of the food. Commonly used when talking about snacks or appetizers. 'She nibbles on some cheese while waiting for the main course ' 'The hamster nibbles its carrot quietly in the corner '
bites	This is a general term for using teeth to cut into something. It can range from small to large bites and can be used in various scenarios, from eating food to describing an animal's action. 'He takes a big bite out of his sandwich ' 'The dog bites the toy aggressively '
nips	Refers to quick, sharp bites that are often minor but can be painful. It carries a slight negative connotation and is often used to describe animals or small children. 'The puppy nips at her heels playfully but it still hurts ' 'Watch out, the crab might nip your fingers if you get too close '

Word

Description / Examples

nibbles

Use in situations where someone is taking small, light bites, often delicately and without consuming much of the food. Commonly used when talking about snacks or appetizers.

'She nibbles on some cheese while waiting for the main course
' 'The hamster nibbles its carrot quietly in the corner
'

bites

This is a general term for using teeth to cut into something. It can range from small to large bites and can be used in various scenarios, from eating food to describing an animal's action.

'He takes a big bite out of his sandwich
' 'The dog bites the toy aggressively
'

nips

Refers to quick, sharp bites that are often minor but can be painful. It carries a slight negative connotation and is often used to describe animals or small children.

'The puppy nips at her heels playfully but it still hurts
' 'Watch out, the crab might nip your fingers if you get too close
'

Examples of usage

The puppy gave playful nibbles on my hand.
I felt the nibbles of mosquitoes as I walked through the forest.

Translations

Translations of the word "nibbles" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mordidas

🇮🇳 निबल्स

छोटे हिस्से
हल्के नाश्ते

🇩🇪 Bissen

🇮🇩 gigitan

camilan
cemilan

🇺🇦 кусочки

перекуси
дрібні порції

🇵🇱 kąski

🇯🇵 一口

🇫🇷 bouchées

🇪🇸 bocados

🇹🇷 ısırıklar

🇰🇷 한 입

🇸🇦 قضمات

🇨🇿 sousta

🇸🇰 sústa

🇨🇳 小口

🇸🇮 koščki

🇮🇸 biti

🇰🇿 тістеме

🇬🇪 ნაწყვეტები

🇦🇿 dişləmələr

🇲🇽 bocados

Etymology

The word 'nibbles' originated from the Middle English word 'nybble', which meant 'to gnaw or nibble'. Over time, it evolved to refer to small bites or snacks. The term is commonly used in informal settings to describe small food items or quick bites.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,559 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
34556 disport
34557 execrated
34558 dungarees
34559 nibbles
34560 humping
34561 insole
34562 muting
...