nibbling

From nibble +‎ -ing.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪblɪŋ/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɪb(ə)lɪŋ/

• Audio (GA)

  (file)

  (one pronunciation)
• Rhymes: -ɪblɪŋ
• Homophone: nibling (one pronunciation)
• Hyphenation: nib‧bling

nibbling (countable and uncountable, plural nibblings)

1. The act or sound of one who nibbles.
   • 1941, Virginia Woolf, Between the Acts:

     Minute nibblings and rustlings broke the silence.

2. A small adjustment or encroachment.
   • 1821, The British Prose Writers: Gray's letters, page 26:

     I send you back the two last sheets, because you bid me. I reserve my nibblings and minutiae for another day.

   • 1921, John Dewey, China, Japan, and the USA:

     Meantime the penetration of Shantung by means of railway discrimination, railway military guards, continual nibblings here and there, will be going on.

3. A child of one's sibling.

nibbling

1. present participle and gerund of nibble