nipple

nipple — noun

1. the small, raised, darker circle of skin at the centre of a breast or chest. In

1.名詞B2
釋義

the small, raised, darker circle of skin at the centre of a breast or chest. In female mammals, milk comes out of the nipple when a baby feeds.

例句

Caio noticed a small rash around his nipple after wearing a new woollen jumper.

collocation: rash around the nipple

The doctor explained that sore nipples during breastfeeding are common in the first few weeks.

collocation: sore nipples

同義詞
  • teat

    mainly used for animals rather than humans

  • mammilla

    medical term, rarely used in everyday speech

文法句型

nipple + verb

adjective + nipple

用法筆記

Both males and females have nipples, though only female nipples typically function for breastfeeding. For the ring of darker skin surrounding the nipple, use 'areola'.

常見錯誤

The doctor checked her nipple for lumps.
The doctor checked her breast for lumps.
💡'nipple' refers only to the small raised centre; 'breast' refers to the whole organ.

2. a rubber or silicone part that fits onto the top of a feeding bottle. Its shape

2.名詞B1
釋義

a rubber or silicone part that fits onto the top of a feeding bottle. Its shape lets a baby suck milk or other liquid through it, just like feeding from a mother's breast.

例句

Tariro boiled the bottle nipple for five minutes to sterilise it before feeding the baby.

collocation: sterilise the nipple

The silicone nipple has a slow-flow design that works well for newborn infants.

material: silicone nipple

同義詞
  • teat

    the common British English term for a bottle nipple

  • bottle teat

    used mainly in UK and Australian English

文法句型

adjective + nipple

noun + nipple

用法筆記

In American English, 'nipple' is the standard term for this item. In British English, 'teat' is equally common for a bottle nipple. A 'pacifier' (US) or 'dummy' (UK) is a different item used to soothe a baby, not for feeding.

常見錯誤

The baby sucked on the teat nipple.
The baby sucked on the teat.' or 'The baby sucked on the nipple.
💡using both 'teat' and 'nipple' together is redundant.

3. a small nozzle, shaped like a nipple, that is fitted onto a machine so that oil

3.名詞C1
釋義

a small nozzle, shaped like a nipple, that is fitted onto a machine so that oil or grease can be forced into its moving parts to keep them working smoothly.

例句

Ezra used a grease gun to pump lubricant through the nipple on the tractor axle.

compound: grease nipple

The mechanic warned that a blocked grease nipple could cause the bearings to overheat.

collocation: blocked grease nipple

同義詞
  • grease fitting

    a general term for any fitting that allows grease to enter a machine

  • zerk fitting

    the most common technical name for this type of grease nipple, named after its inventor Oscar Zerk

文法句型

noun + nipple

adjective + nipple

用法筆記

Often appears in compounds like 'grease nipple' or 'oil nipple' to distinguish this sense from the anatomical one. Also known technically as a 'zerk fitting'.