nib·ble

verb

/ˈnɪbl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they nibble	/ˈnɪbl/ /ˈnɪbl/
he / she / it nibbles	/ˈnɪblz/ /ˈnɪblz/
past simple nibbled	/ˈnɪbld/ /ˈnɪbld/
past participle nibbled	/ˈnɪbld/ /ˈnɪbld/
-ing form nibbling	/ˈnɪblɪŋ/ /ˈnɪblɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

[transitive, intransitive] to bite something with small bites, especially food小口咬，一点点地咬（食物）
- nibble something We sat drinking wine and nibbling olives.我们坐在那儿，喝着葡萄酒嚼着橄榄。
- He nibbled her ear playfully.他开玩笑地轻咬着她的耳朵。
- nibble (at/on something) She took some cake from the tray and nibbled at it.她从盘子里拿了块蛋糕小口地吃着。
[intransitive] nibble (at something) to show a slight interest in an offer, idea, etc.（对…）略微表现出兴趣
- He nibbled at the idea, but would not make a definite decision.他对这个主意略感兴趣，但还不愿意作出明确决定。

Word Originlate 15th cent.: probably of Low German or Dutch origin; compare with Low German nibbeln ‘gnaw’.

noun

/ˈnɪbl/

[countable] a small bite of something, especially food一小口（尤指食物）
- I took a nibble from the biscuit.我咬了一口饼干。
- Somebody’s had a nibble at this biscuit!有人吃了这块饼干！
- I took a little nibble from one of the sandwiches.我咬了一小口三明治。
Topics Cooking and eatingc2
nibbles
[plural] small things to eat with a drink before a meal or at a party（餐前或聚会中的）点心，小吃
- wine and nibbles酒和小吃

Word Originlate 15th cent.: probably of Low German or Dutch origin; compare with Low German nibbeln ‘gnaw’.