Pronunciation: [nˈɪks] (IPA) 
The word "nicks" is spelled with five letters: N-I-C-K-S. It is pronounced /nɪks/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "ni" sound is a short "i" sound, as in "hit". The "ck" sound is a hard "k" sound, as in "lock". The "s" sound is a voiceless "s" sound, as in "miss". "Nicks" can be a verb, meaning to make a small cut or dent, or a plural noun referring to small cuts or dents.
"Nicks" is a plural form of the term "nick," which can be defined as a small cut, notch, or dent on the surface of an object, particularly one that is caused accidentally. A nick is typically a minor and shallow imperfection that slightly damages or removes a small piece of material, leaving a visible mark. It may be a result of a sharp object or tool making contact with the surface of something, leading to a shallow incision or a slight reduction in the integrity of the material.
The term "nicks" is often used to describe multiple instances of such small cuts or dents, typically found on various surfaces like wood, metal, or plastic. These imperfections can occur on a wide range of items, including furniture, kitchen tools, automobiles, or any object susceptible to physical damage.
In addition to accidental damage, nicks can also refer to small cuts intentionally made for decorative purposes, like the notches often found on the edges of coins. Furthermore, the term can extend to metaphorical usage, where it describes slight setbacks or mishaps in a person's progress or plans.
Overall, "nicks" denotes multiple small cuts or dents that occur accidentally or intentionally, leaving visible marks or imperfections on the surface of an object.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "nicks" has multiple etymological origins, depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few possible origins:
1. As a noun, "nicks" is a colloquial term referring to small cuts or notches. It is derived from the Middle English word "nick", which meant a small cut or notch. This Middle English term originated from the Old English word "cnic", which also meant a notch or a small cut.
2. As a verb, "nicks" can refer to making a small cut or notch, often used in woodworking. This usage of "nicks" likely stems from the noun form mentioned above.
3. In British English, "nicks" is a slang term for prison or a police custody suite.
