Nippy: meaning, definitions and examples
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nippy
[ ˈnɪpi ]
weather description
The term 'nippy' is commonly used to describe a chilly or cold atmosphere, particularly during the colder months. It often refers to a biting cold that might make one feel uncomfortable if not properly dressed. This word can also convey a sense of briskness, denoting a sharp or invigorating quality to the air. In informal usage, 'nippy' can apply to temperatures that are considered just cool enough to prompt a response from those experiencing them.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- It's a nippy morning, better grab a jacket.
- The breeze has turned nippy as autumn approaches.
- Be careful walking outside; it feels quite nippy today.
Translations
Translations of the word "nippy" in other languages:
🇵🇹 frio
- agressivo
- rápido
🇮🇳 ठंडा
- चिड़चिड़ा
- तेज
🇩🇪 kalt
- ärgerlich
- schnell
🇮🇩 dingin
- menggigit
- cepat
🇺🇦 прохолодний
- дратівливий
- швидкий
🇵🇱 zimny
- niecierpliwy
- szybki
🇯🇵 寒い
- イライラする
- 素早い
🇫🇷 frais
- irritable
- rapide
🇪🇸 frío
- irritable
- rápido
🇹🇷 soğuk
- sinirli
- hızlı
🇰🇷 차가운
- 짜증나는
- 빠른
🇸🇦 بارد
- عصبي
- سريع
🇨🇿 chladný
- popudlivý
- rychlý
🇸🇰 chladný
- nervózny
- rýchly
🇨🇳 寒冷
- 恼怒
- 快速
🇸🇮 hladen
- razdražljiv
- hitro
🇮🇸 kaldur
- pirraður
- hraður
🇰🇿 суық
- ашуланшақ
- жылдам
🇬🇪 ცივი
- დამღლელი
- სწრაფი
🇦🇿 soyuq
- qıcıq
- sürətli
🇲🇽 frío
- irritable
- rápido
Etymology
The word 'nippy' likely originates from the early 19th century, deriving from the verb 'nip', which means to bite or pinch. Its earliest usage is rooted in the literal sensations of biting cold that one experiences during chilly weather. The transition from describing a physical bite to describing cold weather illustrates how language evolves to encapsulate sensory experiences. 'Nippy' is used primarily in British English, with roots in the adjective 'nip', indicating a sharpness that can be applied to various contexts. Over time, this term has gained popularity in informal speech, especially in relation to describing the coldness of weather, but it can also imply liveliness or briskness in other contexts.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #38,855, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 38852 diurnally
- 38853 arachnid
- 38854 stormiest
- 38855 nippy
- 38856 unassertive
- 38857 decathlon
- 38858 unsympathetically
- ...