/nib"euhl/ , v. , nibbled, nibbling , n.
v.i.
1. to bite off small bits.
2. to eat or chew in small bites: Give him a graham cracker to nibble on.
3. to bite, eat, or chew gently and in small amounts (usually fol. by at ): She was so upset she could only nibble at her food.
v.t.
4. to bite off small bits of (something).
5. to eat (food) by biting off small pieces.
6. to bite in small bits: He nibbled each morsel with great deliberation.
7. nibble away at , to cause to decrease or diminish bit by bit: Inflation was nibbling away at her savings. The rains nibbled at the loam. Also, nibble at .
n.
8. a small morsel or bit: Each nibble was eaten with the air of an epicure.
9. an act or instance of nibbling.
10. a response by a fish to bait on a fishing line.
11. any preliminary positive response or reaction.
[ 1425-75; late ME nebillen to peck away at, nibble, try, perh. nibbelen to pick with the beak; cf. NIB, -LE ]
Syn. 8. tidbit, bite, taste, crumb.