nick: Meaning and Definition of

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
  5. a break in one strand of a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule.
  6. prison.
  7. 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. to trick, cheat, or defraud: How much did they nick you for that suit?
  8. Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.
    1. to arrest (a criminal or suspect).
    2. to capture; nab.
    3. to steal:Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.

Nick

Pronunciation: (nik), [key]
— n.
  1. See
  2. a male given name, form of
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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