nit

Everyday

1. A nit is the egg or young of a head louse, a tiny insect that lives in human hair. tree →
2. (informal, UK, Australia, NZ) A nit or nitwit is a silly, foolish person. tree →
3. To pick nits or nit-pick is to find small, unimportant faults. tree →

In the lessons

At school, nits spread between children's heads; letters go home saying "nits found in class". Parents comb with a nit comb. In playground talk "you nit!" is a mild, friendly insult. Phrases: nit comb, nit-picking, have nits.

Examples

• There are nits in our class, so check your hair. tree →
• Mum combed out my nits with a nit comb. tree →
• Nits stick tightly to hairs. tree →
• Don't share hats, or you might spread nits. tree →
• You nit! You've put your shoes on the wrong feet. tree →
• Stop nit-picking about my spelling. tree →
• Having nits does not mean your hair is dirty. tree →
• The nurse checked 30 heads and found nits on 4. tree →

Note

Countable: nits. "Nitwit" is a mild, jokey insult. Myth: nits are not caused by dirty hair, and lice do not jump or fly; they crawl. Trap: "nit" is not the same as "nut".