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nipple

noun
/ˈnɪp.əl/

Etymology

From earlier neple, nypil, neble, believed to be a diminutive of nib, neb (“tip, point”), equivalent to nib + -le. Compare Old English nypel (“elephant trunk”), formed analogously as "a protuberance from one's neb" .

  1. derived from nypel — “elephant trunk”

Definitions

  1. The projection of a mammary gland from which, on female therian mammals, milk is secreted.

  2. The nipple (definition 1) and the areola together.

  3. A mechanical device through which liquids or gases can be passed in a regulated manner.

  4. ›+ 9 more definitions

    1. An artificial nipple (definition 1) used for bottle-feeding infants.

    2. Any small physical protrusion, such as the lumps on the F and J keys on computer…

      Any small physical protrusion, such as the lumps on the F and J keys on computer keyboards.

    3. Any small physical protrusion on an automotive, a machine part or any other part that…

      Any small physical protrusion on an automotive, a machine part or any other part that fits into a groove on another part.

    4. A perforated segment that fits into part of the breech of a muzzle-loading gun, on which…

      A perforated segment that fits into part of the breech of a muzzle-loading gun, on which the percussion cap is fixed.

      • I could tell he didn't agree but he went to the corner and took up his squirrel gun, feeling the nipple for a percussion cap.

    5. A short tube threaded at both ends, used as a connector.

    6. An internally threaded piece which holds a bicycle spoke in place on the rim.

      • Turn the nipples on to the bicycle spokes only one turn, for each spoke on the new wheel all the way around until they are all snug, then check alignment.
      • These were first constructed by heading the spokes, threading them through a steel felloe or rim and inserting them into screwed nipples which were in their turn screwed into the flanges of the hub.

    7. A pointing stick.

    8. To fit (a baby's bottle, etc.) with a nipple.

    9. To give one's nipple to (a baby) to allow breastfeeding.

The neighborhood

Derived

Batnipples, grease nipple, lipple, micronipple, nip, Nipple Butte, nipple cactus, nipple clamp, nipple clip, nipple-confused, nipple confusion, nipple cripple, nippled, nipple-dilated, nipple-dilation, nipplefruit, nipplegasm, Nipplegate, nipple gong, nipple guard, nippleless, nipplelike, nipple mouse, nipple pastie, nipple pasty, nipple shield, nipplewort, nipple wrench, nippley, nipply, Paget's disease of the nipple, pepperoni nipple, scalp-ear-nipple syndrome, slippery nipple, spoke nipple

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at nipple. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01nipple02therian03marsupial04wombats05wombat06burrowing07burrow08dug

A definitional loop anchored at nipple. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

8 hops · closes at nipple

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA