Dictionary

nitpicking en · NOUN

Etymology

From nit + picking.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The painstaking process of removing nits (lice eggs) from someone's hair.
2. (broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable) A process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors, particularly if the pointed-out details seem insignificant or irrelevant to all but the finder.
   • "Of all life's pleasures, I like nitpicking the best." -- Wally in Dilbert

Forms

Relateds

nitpick · nitpicky · netpicking · nitpicker · nitpickingly

Translations (25)

fr ergotage (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · ar تَمَحُّلُ النَّقْد (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fr pinaillerie (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fr chicane (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fr pédanterie (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · it cavillosità (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fr pinaillage (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · bn চুলচেরা বিচার (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fi niuhottaminen (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · nl muggenziften (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · hu szőrszálhasogatás (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · is sparðatíningur (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · mk ситничарење (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · da flueknepperi (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · nb flisespikkeri (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · de Erbsenzählerei (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · it pedantismo (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · de Pedanterie (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · nl mierenneuken (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fi niuhotus (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · mi totetore (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · it pignoleria (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · it puntigliosità (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fr pointilleux (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors) · fi pilkunviilaus (any process of finding or pointing out tiny details or errors)