nick  (n ĭk)
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n.1. A shallow notch, cut, or indentation on an edge or a surface: nicks in the table; razor nicks on his chin. 2. Chiefly British Slang A prison or police station. 3. Printing A groove down the side of a piece of type used to ensure that it is correctly placed. tr.v. nicked, nick·ing, nicks 1. a. To cut a nick or notch in. b. To cut into and wound slightly: A sliver of glass nicked my hand. 2. To cut short; check: nicked an impulse to flee. 3. Slang To cheat, especially by overcharging. 4. Chiefly British Slang a. To steal. b. To arrest. Idiom: in the nick of time Just at the critical moment; just in time.
[Middle English nik, possibly alteration (influenced by nokke, notch) of niche; see NICHE.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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