nibbling

English

Etymology

From nibble +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪblɪŋ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪb(ə)lɪŋ/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

  (one pronunciation)
• Rhymes: -ɪblɪŋ
• Homophone: nibling (one pronunciation)
• Hyphenation: nib‧bling

Noun

nibbling (countable and uncountable, plural nibblings)

1. The act or sound of one who nibbles.
   • 1941, Virginia Woolf, Between the Acts:

     Minute nibblings and rustlings broke the silence.

2. A small adjustment or encroachment.
   • 1821, The British Prose Writers: Gray's letters, page 26:

     I send you back the two last sheets, because you bid me. I reserve my nibblings and minutiae for another day.

   • 1921, John Dewey, China, Japan, and the USA:

     Meantime the penetration of Shantung by means of railway discrimination, railway military guards, continual nibblings here and there, will be going on.

Verb

nibbling

1. present participle and gerund of nibble

See also

• nibling (“the child of one’s sibling”)