nipped
Playfully bit quickly
Nipped is the past tense of nip—to pinch, bite sharply, or cut off.
Frost nips plants, killing tender growth.
A dog nips at heels.
To nip something in the bud is to stop it early.
In British slang, to nip somewhere is to go quickly: I nipped out for cigarettes.
Nipped also means slightly drunk: He was a bit nipped after the party.
Cut away excess growth
- clippedCut or trimmed briefly
- snippedCut with scissors
- pinchedStole or squeezed tightly
- cutSeverance or reduction
deadheaded · sheared · trimmed · secateurs · buds · shoots · tips · hedges
Moved suddenly, swiftly
- dashedMoved with sudden speed
- poppedExploded with sound
- slippedLost traction momentarily
- duckedBent down suddenly
ran · rushed · hurried · scooted · zipped · out · over · round
pruned
Cut away excess growth
cut · deadheaded · sheared · trimmed · secateurs · buds · shoots · tips · hedges · topiary
frosty
Cold or unwelcoming
crisp · biting · raw · sharp · wintry · frigid · icy · bitter · keen · piercing
darted
Moved suddenly, swiftly
ducked · ran · rushed · hurried · scooted · zipped · out · over · round · corner
sharp
Fine-edged, or astute
burn · tingle · pinch · frost · frostbite · windburn · ears · nose · fingers · cheeks
pinch
Squeeze with fingertips
chomp · clamp · teeth · fang · peck · tweak · squeeze · grip · snag · catch
- nipping atBiting lightly, repeatedly
- nipped in the bud
- nipped in
- nipped atBit lightly and quickly