A nick is a small cut or mark on something. It is often shallow and not very big. People use it to talk about small damages on surfaces or edges.
There is a nick on the table edge.
The knife left a nick in the wood.
Nick can mean to steal something in a quick or secret way. This use is common in British English in informal situations. It is like taking something without permission.
He nicked a cookie from the jar.
Someone nicked my bike yesterday.
In informal British English, 'the nick' means prison or jail. People use it when they talk about being locked up for a crime.
He spent two years in the nick.
The thief went to the nick last night.
Nick can mean to catch or arrest someone in informal British English. The police 'nick' criminals when they take them to jail.
The police nicked him last night.
They nicked the thief quickly.
A nick is a small cut or notch used to mark numbers or measurements on objects like sticks or wood. It helps people count or measure easily.
Make a nick for each count on the stick.
The fence has nicks to show measurements.
Nick can mean a nickname, which is a short or informal name people use instead of their full name. It is used to talk about names friends use.
My nick is Mike for Michael.
She uses a nick instead of her full name.
