Nip vs. Tip — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 21, 2024
"Nip" refers to pinching or squeezing tightly between two edges or surfaces, often sharply, while "tip" denotes the end or extremity of something or giving advice or small amounts of money.
Difference Between Nip and Tip
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Nip" primarily means to pinch or squeeze sharply between two points, often causing a biting or sharp pain. Whereas "tip" has multiple meanings, including the end part of a tool or object, or the act of providing a gratuity or piece of advice.
When discussing plants or gardening, "nip" can mean to remove or pinch off the growth tip of a plant to promote bushier growth, focusing on a botanical context. On the other hand, "tip" in this context could refer to the top or terminal part of a plant.
In terms of physical interaction, "nip" might involve a small bite or pinch that is typically quick and sharp. In contrast, to "tip" someone, such as a waiter, involves giving a small amount of money as a gratuity for services rendered, emphasizing a social or economic interaction.
The figurative use of "nip" often relates to stopping something in its early stages — for instance, "nip a problem in the bud". Conversely, "tip" used figuratively could mean to provide inside information or advice, as in "tip off the police".
In colder climates, "nip" can also describe the stinging effect of cold (e.g., "a nip in the air"), which is a sensory experience. While "tip" could also refer to tilting or causing to tilt an action of movement, as in "tip the scales".
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To pinch or squeeze sharply between two surfaces
The end or extremity of something; to give advice
Contexts
Physical, botanical
Physical, social, economic
Common Applications
Biting, pinching
Gratuity, advice, end part of an object
Usage in Speech
Action-oriented (verb)
Noun or verb
Connotation
Often painful or sharp
Generally neutral, informative, or helpful
Compare with Definitions
Nip
To bite or snap quickly.
The dog nipped at the visitors, causing alarm.
Tip
To tilt or cause to tilt.
The crowd tipped the table during the celebration.
Nip
To chill or affect sharply by cold.
The morning frost nipped the early blooms.
Tip
The act of tapping a device screen lightly.
Just tip the icon to open the app.
Nip
To cut or sever something.
He nipped the thread with a small pair of scissors.
Tip
The end or extremity of something, especially when pointed.
He touched the tip of the spear cautiously.
Nip
To pinch or squeeze sharply, especially with something pointed or edged.
The crab nipped my toe when I stepped near it.
Tip
To give someone a small amount of money in return for a service.
She tipped the waiter generously for his excellent service.
Nip
To destroy or check the growth of something, especially plants.
Gardening experts often nip off the buds to promote growth.
Tip
A useful piece of advice or information.
His tip helped me solve the crossword puzzle.
Nip
Nip is an ethnic slur against people of Japanese descent and origin. The word Nip is an abbreviation from Nippon (日本), the Japanese name for Japan.
Tip
The end of a pointed or projecting object.
Nip
To seize and pinch or bite
The fish nipped the wader's toe.
Tip
A piece or an attachment, such as a cap or ferrule, meant to be fitted to the end of something else
The barbed tip of a harpoon.
Nip
To remove or sever by pinching or snipping
Nipped off the plant leaf.
Tip
The act of tipping.
Nip
To bite or sting with the cold; chill.
Tip
A tilt or slant; an incline.
Nip
To check or cut off the growth or development of
A conspiracy that was nipped in the bud by the police.
Tip
Chiefly British An area or a place for dumping something, such as rubbish.
Nip
To snatch up hastily.
Tip
A light blow; a tap.
Nip
To take (the property of another) unlawfully; steal.
Tip
(Baseball) A pitched ball that is tipped
A foul tip.
Nip
To move quickly; dart.
Tip
A small sum of money given to someone for performing a service; a gratuity.
Nip
To sip (alcoholic liquor) in small amounts
Had been nipping brandy.
Tip
A piece of confidential, advance, or inside information
Got a tip on the next race.
Nip
To take a sip or sips of alcoholic liquor
Nips all day long.
Tip
A helpful hint
A column of tips on gardening.
Nip
The act or an instance of seizing or pinching.
Tip
To furnish with a tip.
Nip
A pinch or snip that cuts off or removes a small part
He gave a small nip to each corner of the cloth.
Tip
To cover or decorate the tip of
Tip strawberries with chocolate.
Nip
The small bit or portion so removed
There were nips of construction paper all over the child's table.
Tip
To remove the tip of
Tip artichokes.
Nip
A sharp, stinging quality, as of frosty air.
Tip
To dye the ends of (hair or fur) in order to blend or improve appearance.
Nip
Severely sharp cold or frost.
Tip
To push or knock over; overturn or topple
Bumped the table and tipped a vase.
Nip
A cutting remark.
Tip
To move to a slanting position; tilt
Tipped the rearview mirror slightly downward.
A weight that tipped the balance.
Nip
A sharp, biting flavor; a tang
The nip of Mexican salsa.
Tip
To touch or raise (one's hat) in greeting.
Nip
A small amount of liquor.
Tip
To empty (something) by overturning; dump.
Nip
A small quantity of something edible or a potable liquor.
I’ll just take a nip of that cake.
He had a nip of whiskey.
Tip
To dump (rubbish, for example).
Nip
A nipple, usually of a woman.
Tip
To topple over; overturn
The trash can tipped over in the wind.
Nip
A playful bite.
The puppy gave his owner’s finger a nip.
Tip
To be tilted; slant
The cabinet tipped toward the wall.
Nip
A pinch with the nails or teeth.
Tip
To strike gently; tap.
Nip
Briskly cold weather.
There is a nip in the air. It is nippy outside.
Tip
(Baseball) To hit (a pitched ball) with the side of the bat so that it glances off.
Nip
A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching
The nip of masses of ice
Tip
(Sports) To tap or deflect (a ball or puck, for example), especially in scoring.
Nip
A small cut, or a cutting off the end.
Tip
(Sports) To deflect or glance off. Used of a ball or puck.
Nip
(mining) A more or less gradual thinning out of a stratum.
Tip
Lower Southern US To tiptoe.
Nip
A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.
Tip
To give a tip to
Tipped the waiter generously.
Nip
A biting sarcasm; a taunt.
Tip
To give as a tip
He tipped a dollar and felt that it was enough.
Nip
(nautical) A short turn in a rope.
Tip
To provide with a piece of confidential, advance, or inside information
A disgruntled gang member who tipped the police to the planned robbery.
Nip
(papermaking) The place of intersection where one roll touches another
Tip
To give tips or a tip
One who tips lavishly.
Nip
A pickpocket.
Tip
The extreme end of something, especially when pointed; e.g. the sharp end of a pencil.
The tip of one's nose
Nip
A hamburger.
Tip
A piece of metal, fabric or other material used to cover the top of something for protection, utility or decoration.
A tip for an umbrella, a shoe, a gas burner, etc.
Nip
To catch and enclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
Tip
(music) The end of a bow of a stringed instrument that is not held.
Nip
To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
Tip
A small piece of meat.
Chicken tips over rice, pork tips, marinated alligator tips
Nip
To benumb [e.g., cheeks, fingers, nose] by severe cold.
Tip
A piece of stiffened lining pasted on the inside of a hat crown.
Nip
To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
Tip
A thin, boarded brush made of camel's hair, used by gilders in lifting gold leaf.
Nip
To annoy, as by nipping.
Tip
Synonym of eartip
Nip
To taunt.
Tip
The knocking over of a skittle.
Nip
To squeeze or pinch.
Tip
An act of tipping up or tilting.
Nip
To steal; especially to cut a purse.
Tip
An area or a place for dumping something, such as rubbish or refuse, as from a mine; a heap (see tipple); a dump.
Nip
To affect [one] painfully; to cause physical pain.'
Tip
Rubbish thrown from a quarry.
Nip
(informal) To make a quick, short journey or errand, usually a round trip.
Why don’t you nip down to the grocer’s for some milk?
Tip
A recycling centre.
Nip
A sip or small draught; esp., a draught of intoxicating liquor; a dram.
Tip
(colloquial) A very untidy place.
Nip
A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas, the nip of masses of ice.
Tip
The act of deflecting with one's fingers, especially the fingertips
Nip
A pinch with the nails or teeth.
Tip
A tram for expeditiously transferring coal.
Nip
A small cut, or a cutting off the end.
Tip
A light blow or tap.
Nip
A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.
Tip
A gratuity; a small amount of money left for a bartender, waiter, taxi driver or other servant as a token of appreciation.
Workers in the American service industry usually depend on tips to even make minimum wage.
Nip
A biting sarcasm; a taunt.
Tip
A piece of private or secret information, especially imparted by someone with expert knowledge about sporting odds, business performance etc.
Hot stock tips
Nip
A short turn in a rope.
Tip
A piece of advice.
Tips and tricks
Nip
To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon.
May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell,Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat,If I be such a traitress.
Tip
(AU) A prediction or bet about the outcome of something.
Nip
To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip.
The small shoots . . . must be nipped off.
Tip
(transitive) To provide with a tip; to cover the tip of.
Nip
Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
Tip
(ergative) (To cause) to become knocked over, fall down or overturn.
Nip
To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt.
And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip.
Tip
(ergative) (To cause) to be, or come to be, in a tilted or sloping position; (to cause) to become unbalanced.
Nip
A small drink of liquor;
He poured a shot of whiskey
Tip
To cause the contents of a container to be emptied out by tilting it.
Nip
A person of Japanese descent
Tip
To drink.
Nip
A tart spiciness
Tip
(transitive) To dump (refuse).
Nip
A small drink
Tip
To pour a libation or a liquid from a container, particularly from a forty of malt liquor.
Nip
Small sharp biting
Tip
(transitive) To deflect with one′s fingers, especially one′s fingertips.
Nip
Squeeze tightly between the fingers;
He pinched her behind
She squeezed the bottle
Tip
To hit quickly and lightly; to tap.
Nip
Give a small sharp bite to;
The Queen's corgies always nip at her staff's ankles
Tip
To give a small gratuity to, especially to an employee of someone who provides a service.
You should always tip your waiter in the United States and most third world countries.
Nip
Sever or remove by pinching or snipping;
Nip off the flowers
Tip
To give, pass.
Tip
To give a piece of private information to; to inform (someone) of a clue, secret knowledge, etc.
Tip
(AU) To predict or bet on something having a particular outcome.
Tip
The point or extremity of anything; a pointed or somewhat sharply rounded end; the end; as, the tip of the finger; the tip of a spear.
To the very tip of the nose.
Tip
An end piece or part; a piece, as a cap, nozzle, ferrule, or point, applied to the extreme end of anything; as, a tip for an umbrella, a shoe, a gas burner, etc.
Tip
A piece of stiffened lining pasted on the inside of a hat crown.
Tip
A thin, boarded brush made of camel's hair, used by gilders in lifting gold leaf.
Tip
Rubbish thrown from a quarry.
Tip
A light touch or blow; a tap.
Tip
A gift; a douceur; a fee.
Tip
A hint, or secret intimation, as to the chances in a horse race, or the like.
Tip
To form a point upon; to cover the tip, top, or end of; as, to tip anything with gold or silver.
With truncheon tipped with iron head.
Tipped with jet,Fair ermines spotless as the snows they press.
Tip
To strike slightly; to tap.
A third rogue tips me by the elbow.
Tip
To bestow a gift, or douceur, upon; to give a present to; as, to tip a servant.
Tip
To lower one end of, or to throw upon the end; to tilt; as, to tip a cask; to tip a cart.
Tip
To fall on, or incline to, one side.
Tip
The extreme end of something; especially something pointed
Tip
A relatively small amount of money given for services rendered (as by a waiter)
Tip
An indication of potential opportunity;
He got a tip on the stock market
A good lead for a job
Tip
A V shape;
The cannibal's teeth were filed to sharp points
Tip
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
Tip
Cause to tilt;
Tip the screen upward
Tip
Mark with a tip;
Tip the arrow with the small stone
Tip
Give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the agreed-on compensation;
Remember to tip the waiter
Fee the steward
Tip
Cause to topple or tumble by pushing
Tip
To incline or bend from a vertical position;
She leaned over the banister
Tip
Walk on one's toes
Tip
Strike lightly;
He tapped me on the shoulder
Tip
Give insider information or advise to;
He tipped off the police about the terrorist plot
Tip
Remove the tip from;
Tip artichokes
Common Curiosities
What is a "tip" in terms of payment?
A "tip" is a small amount of money given to someone, such as a server or taxi driver, for their service, beyond the basic cost.
What are common scenarios for using "nip"?
"Nip" is commonly used to describe a quick, sharp bite or pinch and in phrases like "nip in the bud".
What does "tip the scales" mean?
It means to alter a balance in a way that creates a significant difference or outcome.
What does it mean to "nip something in the bud"?
It means to stop a potential problem before it develops further or becomes more serious.
What are the implications of not tipping in cultures where it is expected?
Not tipping in such cultures might be seen as rude or indicative of dissatisfaction with the service.
How does the meaning of "nip" change in different contexts?
In a physical sense, it relates to biting or pinching, while in gardening, it refers to pruning.
Can "nip" and "tip" be used interchangeably?
No, "nip" and "tip" have different meanings and are used in different contexts.
Is "nip" only used in negative contexts?
Mostly, yes, as it often involves biting or sharp cold, but it can also be used in neutral terms such as in gardening.
How is "tip" used in gardening?
In gardening, "tip" might refer to the tip of a plant or branch.
What does "tip off" mean?
It means to give someone confidential or inside information, often to prevent or cause an action.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
