nick

Pluralnicks

Formsnicks, nicking, nicked

1. 1
   damage surfacenouncountable

   A small cut on the outside of something.

   There is a nick in the kitchen table where I dropped a knife.

   The old car door was covered in nicks and scratches.

   Similarcut, notch, chip, scratch

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To make a small cut or mark in something, often by accident.

   Be careful not to nick the table with that knife.

   He nicked his finger on the sharp edge of the can.

   Similarcut, notch, scratch, chip, graze

3. 3
   stealverbcolloquialCommonwealthIrelandUKtransitive

   To take something that belongs to someone else without asking.

   Don't leave your bag there, or someone will nick it.

   My brother nicked my chips when I wasn't looking.

   UsageSay someone's nicked my phone.

   Similarsteal, pinch, swipe, filch, nab

4. 4
   critical momentnoun

   The exact point, or the very moment when something matters most.

   The ambulance arrived in the nick of time.

   Here ended, then, / Progress this way. When, in the very nick / Of giving up, one time more, came a click / As when a trap shuts – you're inside the den!

   1856, Robert Browning, “‘Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came.’”Here, nick means the exact moment, just at the point of giving up.

   UsageSay just in the nick of time.

   Note
5. 5
   online namenounabbreviationclipping

   Short for nickname: the name you go by in an online chat.

   Pick a nick before you join the chat room.

   Her nick on the gaming server is ShadowFox.

   Note
6. 6
   conditionnouncolloquialCommonwealthIrelandUKuncountable

   The condition something is in, as in good nick or bad nick.

   The bike is old but still in good nick.

   The garden was in bad nick after the long winter.

   UsagePut a describing word before nick: in good nick, in decent nick.

   Similarshape, condition, form, fettle

   Note
7. 7
   police stationnounslangCommonwealthIrelandUKcountable

   A police station, or a jail.

   They took him down to the nick for questioning.

   He spent two years in the nick for robbery.

   Similarjail, prison, clink, slammer

8. 8
   arrestverbslangCommonwealthIrelandUKtransitive

   To arrest someone, as the police do.

   The police will nick you if you drive like that.

   Two officers nicked the burglar at the end of the street.

   UsageSay someone got nicked by the police.

   Similararrest, nab, collar, bust, pinch

   Oppositerelease

9. 9
   edged shotnouncountable

   In cricket, a small touch of the ball off the edge of the bat, often caught by the keeper.

   The keeper caught the ball after a thin nick off the bat.

   The umpire did not hear the nick, so the batter stayed in.

   Similaredge

   Note
10. 10
    edged shotverbtransitive

    In cricket, to touch the ball with the edge of the bat so it changes direction a little.

    If you nick the ball, the keeper may catch it.

    Two balls later, I nick one and it carries beautifully to Peter Bowler at first slip, a complete dolly catch, and he drops it.

    2013, Ian Botham, with Dean WilsonHere, nick means touch the ball with the edge of the bat.

    Similaredge, snick

    Note
11. 11
    court cornernouncountable

    In squash and similar games, the spot where the wall meets the floor.

    The ball hit the nick and rolled flat along the floor.

    She won the point with a soft shot into the nick.

    Note

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