1bit1 (bɪt
)
Definitions
noun
- a small piece, portion, or quantity
- a short time or distance
- US Canadian informal the value of an eighth of a dollar: spoken of only in units of two ⇒
two bits
- any small coin
- short for bit part
- informal way of behaving, esp one intended to create a particular impression ⇒
she's doing the prima donna bit
- See a bit
- See a bit of
- See a bit of all right
- See bit by bit
- See bit on the side
- See do one's bit
- See every bit
- See not a bit
- See to bits
Word Origin
Old English bite action of biting; see bite2bit2 (bɪt)
Definitions
noun
- a metal mouthpiece, for controlling a horse on a bridle
- anything that restrains or curbs
- See take the bit in one's teeth
- a cutting or drilling tool, part, or head in a brace, drill, etc
- the blade of a woodworking plane
- the part of a pair of pincers designed to grasp an object
- the copper end of a soldering iron
- the part of a key that engages the levers of a lock
verb
Word forms: bits, bitting, bitted
(tr) - to put a bit in the mouth of (a horse)
- to restrain; curb
Word Origin
Old English bita ; related to Old English bītan to bite4bit4 (bɪt)
Definitions
noun
mathematics computing- a single digit of binary notation, represented either by 0 or by 1
- the smallest unit of information, indicating the presence or absence of a single feature
- a unit of capacity of a computer, consisting of an element of its physical structure capable of being in either of two states, such as a switch with a unit of capacity of a computer, consisting of an element of its physical structure capable of being in either of two states, such as a switch with on and a unit of capacity of a computer, consisting of an element of its physical structure capable of being in either of two states, such as a switch with and off positions, or a microscopic magnet capable of alignment in two directions
Word Origin
C20: from abbreviation of binary digitbite (baɪt)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: bites, biting, bit, bitten
- to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
- (of animals, insects, etc) to injure by puncturing or tearing (the skin or flesh) with the teeth, fangs, etc, esp as a natural characteristic
- (tr) to cut or penetrate, as with a knife
- (of corrosive material such as acid) to eat away or into
- to smart or cause to smart; sting ⇒
mustard bites the tongue
- (intr) angling (of a fish) to take or attempt to take the bait or lure
- to take firm hold of or act effectively upon
- to grip or hold (a workpiece) with a tool or chuck
- (of a screw, thread, etc) to cut into or grip (an object, material, etc)
- (tr) informal to annoy or worry ⇒
what's biting her?
- (often passive) slang to cheat
- (tr) often foll by for Australian New Zealand slang to ask (for); scrounge from
- See bite off more than one can chew
- See bite the bullet
- See bite someone's head off
- See bite the dust
- See bite the hand that feeds one
- See once bitten, twice shy
- See put the bite on someone
noun
- the act of biting
- a thing or amount bitten off
- a wound, bruise, or sting inflicted by biting
- angling an attempt by a fish to take the bait or lure
- informal an incisive or penetrating effect or quality ⇒
that's a question with a bite
- a light meal; snack
- a cutting, stinging, or smarting sensation
- the depth of cut of a machine tool
- the grip or hold applied by a tool or chuck to a workpiece
- dentistry the angle or manner of contact between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed naturally
- the surface of a file or rasp with cutting teeth
- the corrosive action of acid, as on a metal etching plate
Alternative Forms
ˈbiter nounWord Origin
Old English bītan ; related to Latin findere to split, Sanskrit bhedati he splitsSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
nip,
cut,
tear,
wound,
grip,
snap,
crush,
rend,
pierce,
champ,
pinch,
chew,
crunch,
clamp,
nibble,
gnaw,
masticate,
=
take effect,
work,
be effective take hold come into force produce results have the desired effect become operative
= take the bait be lured be enticed rise to the bait
Translations
- British English:
bit
A bit of something is a small amount of it, or a small part of it.I ate a bit of bread.bɪt NOUN I ate a bit of bread.
- Spanish:
pedazo
nm
- French:
morceau
nm
- German:
Stückchen
nnt Stückchen
- Chinese: 小块 n
- Arabic: جُزْء صَغِير n
- Portuguese: pedaço nm
- Russian: кусочек nm
- Croatian: komadić nm
- Czech: kousek nm
- Danish: smule nutr
- Dutch: beetje nnt
- Finnish: palanen n
- Greek: τεμάχιο nnt
- Italian: pezzo nm
- Japanese: 小片 n
- Korean: 작은 조각 n
- Norwegian: stykke nnt
- Polish: kawałek nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: pedaço nm
- European Spanish:
pedazo
nm
- Swedish: stycke nnt
- Thai: เล็กๆ น้อยๆ n
- Turkish: parça n
- Vietnamese: miếng n
Usage examples
They were prepared to put up with quite a bit to get what they wanted.
, TREASON KEEP (2001)Good, stone built or brick farmhouses with a bit of land will always do well.
Country Life (2004)"I was getting a bit frustrated with the way I was working with material.
Irish Times (2002)It was a bit like a child describing the contents of his money box to a favourite uncle.
Glasgow Herald (2001)I'm all right, really, just my back's a little sore and I get a bit weepy now and then.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)