/ nɪk; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
the nick [ sing. ] ( BrE , slang ) a prison or a police station :
He'll end up in the nick.
2.
a small cut in the edge or surface of sth
•
IDIOMS
- in good, etc. nick
- in the nick of time
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to make a small cut in sth :
He nicked himself while shaving.
2.
[ vn ] nick sth (from sb/sth) ( BrE , informal ) to steal sth
SYN pinch :
Who nicked my pen?
3.
[ vn ] nick sb (for sth) ( BrE , informal ) to arrest sb for committing a crime :
You're nicked!
4.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] ( AustralE , NZE , informal ) to go somewhere quickly
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : of unknown origin.