quibble
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quib·ble
(kwĭb′əl)intr.v. quib·bled, quib·bling, quib·bles
To argue or find fault over trivial matters or minor concerns; cavil.
n.
1. A trivial matter or minor concern raised in arguing or finding fault.
2. Archaic A pun.
[Probably diminutive of obsolete quib, equivocation, perhaps from Latin quibus, dative and ablative pl. of quī, who, what (from its frequent use in legal documents); see kwo- in Indo-European roots.]
quib′bler n.
Synonyms: quibble, carp1, cavil, nitpick
These verbs mean to raise petty or frivolous objections or complaints: quibbling about minor details; a critic who constantly carped; caviling about the price of coffee; tried to stop nitpicking all the time.
These verbs mean to raise petty or frivolous objections or complaints: quibbling about minor details; a critic who constantly carped; caviling about the price of coffee; tried to stop nitpicking all the time.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
quibble
(ˈkwɪbəl)vb (intr)
1. to make trivial objections; prevaricate
2. archaic to play on words; pun
n
3. a trivial objection or equivocation, esp one used to avoid an issue
4. archaic a pun
[C17: probably from obsolete quib, perhaps from Latin quibus (from quī who, which), as used in legal documents, with reference to their obscure phraseology]
ˈquibbler n
ˈquibbling adj, n
ˈquibblingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
quib•ble
(ˈkwɪb əl)n., v. -bled, -bling. n.
1. a petty or carping criticism.
2. an instance of the use of ambiguous, deceptive, or irrelevant language or arguments to evade a point at issue.
v.i. 3. to argue or complain about trivial matters; bicker, carp, or cavil.
4. to use evasive or ambiguous language; equivocate.
quib′bler, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
quibble
Past participle: quibbled
Gerund: quibbling
| Imperative |
|---|
| quibble |
| quibble |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. | quibble - an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections equivocation, evasion - a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth |
| Verb | 1. | quibble - evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections evade, hedge, sidestep, skirt, parry, fudge, circumvent, dodge, elude, duck, put off - avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues); "He dodged the issue"; "she skirted the problem"; "They tend to evade their responsibilities"; "he evaded the questions skillfully" |
| 2. | quibble - argue over petty things; "Let's not quibble over pennies" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
quibble
verb
1. split hairs, carp, cavil, prevaricate, beat about the bush, equivocate Let's not quibble.
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
quibble
verb1. To raise unnecessary or trivial objections:
Idiom: pick to pieces.
2. To engage in a quarrel:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
quibble
[ˈkwɪbl]A. N (= trivial objection) → objeción f de poca monta
he dismissed their objections as mere quibbles → desestimó sus objeciones como si se trataran de simples nimiedades
the deal was held up by some legal quibble → se retrasó el acuerdo a causa de una pequeña objeción de carácter legal
he dismissed their objections as mere quibbles → desestimó sus objeciones como si se trataran de simples nimiedades
the deal was held up by some legal quibble → se retrasó el acuerdo a causa de una pequeña objeción de carácter legal
B. VI → hacer objeciones de poca monta
he always quibbles → es un quisquilloso
to quibble over or about sth → discutir por algo sin importancia
I'm not going to quibble over 20 pence → no voy a discutir por 20 peniques
there's no point in quibbling about who's right and who's wrong → no sirve de nada discutir por quién tiene razón y quién no
he always quibbles → es un quisquilloso
to quibble over or about sth → discutir por algo sin importancia
I'm not going to quibble over 20 pence → no voy a discutir por 20 peniques
there's no point in quibbling about who's right and who's wrong → no sirve de nada discutir por quién tiene razón y quién no
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005