Definition

1. Noun:
   • The horny projecting mouth of a bird; a beak: The pointed, hard part of a bird's mouth used for pecking, eating, and handling objects.
   • The writing point of a pen: The metal tip, especially of a fountain pen, through which ink flows onto the writing surface.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Bird's beak):

  • The sparrow cracked the seed open with its sharp nib.
  • The bird's nib was perfectly adapted for extracting insects from bark.

• Noun (Pen point):

  • The fountain pen has a gold nib that provides a smooth writing experience.
  • He damaged the nib of his pen by pressing too hard on the paper.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a nib at something": To make a small, tentative attempt or bite at something. (This usage is less common and often informal).
  • The fish had a nib at the bait but didn't take the hook.

Variants and Related Words

• Nibbed (adj): Having a nib or point.
  • A finely nibbed pen is a joy to write with.

Synonyms

• Beak: The horny projecting jaws of a bird (specifically for the first meaning).
• Bill: Another term for a bird's beak.
• Tip: The pointed or rounded end of something (for the pen part, though less specific).
• Point: The sharp or tapered end of a tool or instrument.

Related Phrases

• Pen nib: A common compound term specifying the writing point.
  • He collects vintage pen nibs from different manufacturers.

Noun

1. horny projecting mouth of a bird
2. the writing point of a pen