Verb > Nibble
1 : to eat slowly or with small bites
(+ object)
We nibbled cheese and crackers.
(no object)
We nibbled on some cheese and crackers before dinner.
– often + at
She felt a fish nibble at the end of her fishing line.
Insects nibbled at the tree’s leaves.
– sometimes used figuratively
He nibbled at the idea of changing careers (=he thought briefly about changing careers), but decided against it in the end.
2 : (+ object) : to bite (something) very gently
He nibbled her ear.
nibble (away) at (phrasal verb)
nibble (away) at (something)
to make (something) disappear or go away very slowly
Police have been nibbling (away) at crime in the city for years. (=police have been very slowly reducing the amount of crime in the city)