# nibble

/ˈnɪbəɫ/ (US) · /nˈɪbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nibble
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a small amount of data that a computer sends or receives at one time. It is much smaller than a full block of information.

For teachers: a small unit of data, typically 16 bits, used in computing for data transfer or memory addressing.

## Examples

- The computer sends a nibble of data to the screen.
- In older systems, a nibble was the smallest unit of data that could be processed by the processor.
- While modern processors handle data in larger chunks, the nibble remains a fundamental unit in certain legacy protocols and low-level hardware communication.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.