nick
nick Lexical Profile
nick Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small cut, notch, groove, or chip on a surface or edge, or a slight cut on the skin.
"The antique wooden table had a few minor nicks along its edge, but it remained in sturdy condition."
A precise or critical moment, used almost exclusively in the phrase "in the nick of time".
"The paramedics arrived in the nick of time to stabilize the patient."
British A prison or police station (informal).
"He spent the weekend in the local nick after being detained by the authorities."
British A state or condition of health or repair (informal).
"Despite its high mileage, the vintage car is still in remarkably good nick."
• verb
To make a small cut, notch, or scratch in or on something.
"Be careful not to nick the woodwork while moving the heavy desk through the doorway."
British To steal or take something without permission (informal).
"Someone appears to have nicked my umbrella from the stand by the door."
British To arrest or catch someone committing an offense (informal).
"The officer nicked the driver for speeding in a residential zone."
• Rhymes for nick
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the 15th century, likely a phonetic variant of "nock" (a notch in an arrow), which is of Scandinavian or Low German origin.