Dictionary
nick
Pronunciation: (nik), [key]—
n.
1. a small notch, groove, chip, or the like, cut into or existing in something.
2. a hollow place produced in an edge or surface, as of a dish, by breaking, chipping, or the like:
I didn't notice those tiny nicks in the vase when I bought it.
3. a small dent or wound.
4. a small groove on one side of the shank of a printing type, serving as a guide in setting or to distinguish different types. See diag. under
type.
5. Biochem.a break in one strand of a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule.
6. Brit. Slang.prison.
7. in the nick of time, at the right or vital moment, usually at the last possible moment:
The fire engines arrived in the nick of time.
—
v.t.
1. to cut into or through:
I nicked my chin while shaving.
2. to hit or injure slightly.
3. to make a nick or nicks in (something); notch, groove, or chip.
4. to record by means of a notch or notches.
5. to incise certain tendons at the root of (a horse's tail) to give it a higher carrying position; make an incision under the tail of (a horse).
6. to hit, guess, catch, etc., exactly.
7. Slang.to trick, cheat, or defraud:
How much did they nick you for that suit?
8. Brit. Slang.
a. to arrest (a criminal or suspect).
b. to capture; nab.
c. to steal:
Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus. Nick
Pronunciation: (nik), [key]—
n.
1. See
Old Nick.
2. a male given name, form of
Nicholas. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
