прику́сывать

rare #52887

verbimperfective perfective is прикуси́ть

1.
to bite (lightly), to bite (one's lip or tongue)
Она́ не́рвно прику́сывала губу́.
She was nervously biting her lip.
Typically of biting one's own lip or tongue, often accidentally or out of nervousness; the phrase прикусывать язык also means 'hold one's tongue'.
2.
(rare) to bite into, to take a bite of, to nibble at
Он пил чай и прику́сывал са́хар.
He drank his tea, biting off bits of sugar.
Of taking small bites of food, especially to accompany a drink.

Examples

Он всегда прикусывает губу, когда думает.
He always bites his lip when he is thinking.
Она прикусывает кончик карандаша от волнения.
She bites the tip of her pencil when she is nervous.
Не прикусывай язык во время разговора.
Don't bite your tongue while talking.

Imperative
ты	прику́сывай
вы	прику́сывайте

Active present	прику́сывающий	biting, nipping, clenching (teeth)
Active past	прику́сывавший	biting, nipping, that was biting, that was nipping
Passive present	прикусываемый	being bitten, being nipped, bitten
Passive past	-
Gerund present	прику́сывая	while doing (present)
Gerund past	прикусывав прикусывавши	while doing (past)

Verb	Prefix	Meaning
выку́сывать	вы-	to take a bite
заку́сывать	за-	to have a snack; to eat after drinking; to bite (one's lip)
иску́сывать	ис-	to bite all over
надку́сывать	над-	to take a bite