a small notch, groove, chip, or the like, cut into or existing in something.

a hollow place produced in an edge or surface, as of a dish, by breaking, chipping, or the like

I didn't notice those tiny nicks in the vase when I bought it.

a small dent or wound.

a small groove on one side of the shank of a printing type, serving as a guide in setting or to distinguish different types.

Biochemistry . a break in one strand of a double-stranded DNA or RNA molecule.

British Slang . prison.

to cut into or through

I nicked my chin while shaving.

to hit or injure slightly.

to make a nick or nicks in (something); notch, groove, or chip.

to record by means of a notch or notches.

to incise certain tendons at the root of (a horse's tail) to give it a higher carrying position; make an incision under the tail of (a horse).

to hit, guess, catch, etc., exactly.

Slang . to trick, cheat, or defraud

How much did they nick you for that suit?

British Slang .

to arrest (a criminal or suspect).

to capture; nab.

to steal

Someone nicked her pocketbook on the bus.

in the nick of time, at the right or vital moment

usually at the last possible moment

The fire engines arrived in the nick of time.

noun, verb

cut , damage , dent , dint , indent , jag , knock , mark , mill , notch , scar , score , slit

verb

fleece , overcharge