nick
Third Person
nicks
Present Participle
nicking
Past Tense
nicked
Past Participle
nicked
1
to make a small, shallow cut or groove into something
transitive
- The woodworker carefully nicks the edge of the board to mark the measurement.
- The chef used a knife to nick the skin of the fruit for easier peeling.
- The jeweler skillfully nicks the metal to create a textured pattern on the jewelry.
- To keep track of measurements, the tailor nicks the fabric at specific points.
Synonyms:
2
to make a small, shallow cut or wound, resulting in minor injury or damage
transitive
- While chopping vegetables, she accidentally nicked her finger with the knife, causing a small but painful cut.
- As he was shaving, he inadvertently nicked his chin with the razor, resulting in a minor shaving cut.
- While trimming the hedges, she nicked the edge of her hand with the pruning shears, causing a small abrasion.
- While sharpening pencils, he nicked the tip of his thumb with the blade, resulting in a tiny but noticeable cut.
- While pruning the rose bushes, he nicked his forearm on one of the thorns, resulting in a small puncture wound.
Synonyms:
3
(of livestock) to produce offspring that exhibit superior traits
- The two champion racehorses nicked exceptionally well, producing offspring that inherited their speed and agility.
- The careful selection of breeding pairs ensured that the dogs would nick effectively.
- The ornithologists observed the mating behaviors of the bird species to identify pairs that would nick effectively
4
to make shallow, precise cuts or incisions on the underside of a horse's tail, often for identification purposes
transitive
- As part of the grooming ritual, the stablehand nicks the tails of the therapy horses.
- The rancher nicks the tails of his horses with a specific pattern to indicate ownership and lineage.
- As part of the grooming routine, the equestrian trims and nicks the tails of her horses.
- The trainer carefully nicks the tails of the show horses, incorporating delicate designs and patterns.