Library / English Dictionary

BICKERING

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 ("bickering" is a kind of...):

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

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

-ing form of the verb bicker

Credits

 Context examples: 

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)