Nit

/nɪt/
noun

Egg or young form of a louse or other small insect.

She combed through her daughter's hair, looking for nits.
Visual representation of "nit" - Egg or young form of a louse or other small insect.

Often appears as...

  • nit comb
  • nit pick
noun

A small or insignificant criticism, complaint, or flaw.

He likes to nit-pick about insignificant details.
Visual representation of "nit" - A small or insignificant criticism, complaint, or flaw.

Often appears as...

  • nit picking
  • nit pick

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Idiomatic

noun

A foolish or contemptible person.

Stop behaving like a nit.
Visual representation of "nit" - A foolish or contemptible person.

Often appears as...

  • silly nit
  • stupid nit

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

acronym

National Invitation Tournament, an annual college basketball tournament in the United States.

He was watching the NIT on television.
Visual representation of "nit" - National Invitation Tournament, an annual college basketball tournament in the United States.

Often appears as...

  • nit championship
  • nit game

Usage tips

Technical, Academic

noun

Egg or young form of a louse or other small insect.

She combed through her daughter's hair, looking for nits.
Visual representation of "nit" - Egg or young form of a louse or other small insect.

Often appears as...

  • nit comb
  • nit pick
noun

A small or insignificant criticism, complaint, or flaw.

He likes to nit-pick about insignificant details.
Visual representation of "nit" - A small or insignificant criticism, complaint, or flaw.

Often appears as...

  • nit picking
  • nit pick

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Idiomatic

noun

A foolish or contemptible person.

Stop behaving like a nit.
Visual representation of "nit" - A foolish or contemptible person.

Often appears as...

  • silly nit
  • stupid nit

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

acronym

National Invitation Tournament, an annual college basketball tournament in the United States.

He was watching the NIT on television.
Visual representation of "nit" - National Invitation Tournament, an annual college basketball tournament in the United States.

Often appears as...

  • nit championship
  • nit game

Usage tips

Technical, Academic

Definition 1 of 4
Visual representation of "nit"
LampPro Tip 1/2

Insect Life Stage

Think of 'nit' as a developmental stage, like a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly.

Illustration for Insect Life Stage
I used a special shampoo to remove all the nits.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Singular and Plural

'Nit' remains the same whether you're talking about one or many, like 'sheep' or 'fish'.

Illustration for Singular and Plural
My vet found a nit on my dog's fur.
LampPro Tip 1/2

Insect Life Stage

Think of 'nit' as a developmental stage, like a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly.

Illustration for Insect Life Stage
I used a special shampoo to remove all the nits.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Singular and Plural

'Nit' remains the same whether you're talking about one or many, like 'sheep' or 'fish'.

Illustration for Singular and Plural
My vet found a nit on my dog's fur.
LampPro Tip 1/2

Insect Life Stage

Think of 'nit' as a developmental stage, like a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly.

Illustration for Insect Life Stage
I used a special shampoo to remove all the nits.
LampPro Tip 2/2

Singular and Plural

'Nit' remains the same whether you're talking about one or many, like 'sheep' or 'fish'.

Illustration for Singular and Plural
My vet found a nit on my dog's fur.
Visual representation of the word "Nit"

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Video examples

Big-Haired Baboons PIPE...

geladas grow these maids gelada baboons like this one may have inspired the phrase nitpicking although why the phrase is nitpicking as opposed to nit picking and eating is unclear the gelada form larger groups than other species of

Video examples

Big-Haired Baboons PIPE...

geladas grow these maids gelada baboons like this one may have inspired the phrase nitpicking although why the phrase is nitpicking as opposed to nit picking and eating is unclear the gelada form larger groups than other species of

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Pallam Raju

Indian Politician

The creation of NIT has ensured some seats for admission in undergraduate courses for students of Arunachal Pradesh, which will bound to uplift economics of locality directly or indirectly and help in enhancing human development index in the state.
Portrait of Pallam Raju

Quote examples

Stephen Curry

American Athlete

The last game I played in college was in the NIT against St. Mary's. That was the first time I had come to the Oakland area. So, the last game I played in college and the first game of my NBA career were out here in the Bay Area. It's pretty cool.
Portrait of Stephen Curry

Quote examples

Rush Limbaugh

American Entertainer

By the way, I don't mean to pick nits here, but Obama has just ordered the flag at half-mast for 10 days for Mandela. He did not order the flag at half-mast at all for Lady Thatcher.
Portrait of Rush Limbaugh

Quote examples

Richard Bonynge

Australian Musician

The idea is not to have one great singer surrounded by a bunch of nit wits. When the others are good, too, that's when you get something happening in opera.
Portrait of Richard Bonynge

Quote examples

Stacey Solomon

I remember the time I had nits. It all started with an itchy head. I assumed I had a dry scalp and that maybe my extensions had grown out too long.
Portrait of Stacey Solomon

Quote examples

Stacey Solomon

I used to get nits all the time as a kid. I was six when I first encountered the egg planting hair vermin.
Portrait of Stacey Solomon

Quote examples

Stacey Solomon

My hair seems to be such an appealing environment for nits so I have to be on my guard.
Portrait of Stacey Solomon

Quote examples

Pallam Raju

Indian Politician

The creation of NIT has ensured some seats for admission in undergraduate courses for students of Arunachal Pradesh, which will bound to uplift economics of locality directly or indirectly and help in enhancing human development index in the state.
Portrait of Pallam Raju

Quote examples

Stephen Curry

American Athlete

The last game I played in college was in the NIT against St. Mary's. That was the first time I had come to the Oakland area. So, the last game I played in college and the first game of my NBA career were out here in the Bay Area. It's pretty cool.
Portrait of Stephen Curry

Quote examples

Rush Limbaugh

American Entertainer

By the way, I don't mean to pick nits here, but Obama has just ordered the flag at half-mast for 10 days for Mandela. He did not order the flag at half-mast at all for Lady Thatcher.
Portrait of Rush Limbaugh

Quote examples

Richard Bonynge

Australian Musician

The idea is not to have one great singer surrounded by a bunch of nit wits. When the others are good, too, that's when you get something happening in opera.
Portrait of Richard Bonynge

Quote examples

Stacey Solomon

I remember the time I had nits. It all started with an itchy head. I assumed I had a dry scalp and that maybe my extensions had grown out too long.
Portrait of Stacey Solomon

Quote examples

Stacey Solomon

I used to get nits all the time as a kid. I was six when I first encountered the egg planting hair vermin.
Portrait of Stacey Solomon

Quote examples

Stacey Solomon

My hair seems to be such an appealing environment for nits so I have to be on my guard.
Portrait of Stacey Solomon
Example 1 of 7
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