Library / English Dictionary

BICKER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A quarrel about petty points

Synonyms:

bicker; bickering; fuss; pettifoggery; spat; squabble; tiff

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("bicker" is a kind of...):

dustup; quarrel; row; run-in; words; wrangle (an angry dispute)

Derivation:

bicker (argue over petty things)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Argue over petty things

Example:

Let's not quibble over pennies

Synonyms:

bicker; brabble; niggle; pettifog; quibble; squabble

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "bicker" is one way to...):

argue; contend; debate; fence (have an argument about something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence examples:

Sam and Sue bicker

Sam wants to bicker with Sue

Derivation:

bicker (a quarrel about petty points)

Credits

 Context examples: 

And there were the dogs, ever squabbling and bickering, bursting into uproars and creating confusions.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“By St. Paul!” he cried, “I have fought in many a little bickering, but never one that I would be more loth to have missed than this. But you are wounded, Alleyne?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Aylward at this order came shuffling forward amid the trees, and in an instant the two men were clinging in each other's arms, laughing and shouting and patting each other in their delight; while old Sir Nigel came running with his sword, under the impression that some small bickering had broken out, only to embrace and be embraced himself, until all three were hoarse with their questions and outcries and congratulations.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By St. Paul! answered Sir Nigel, I can by no means understand what hath befallen us, save that I have been woken up by your battle-cry, and, rushing forth, found myself in the midst of this small bickering.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)