Search results for 'bit':

bit¹ noun 1 a small piece, part or amount of something. 2 Brit, old use, in compounds a coin, especially a small coin • threepenny bit. 3 N Amer (only two-bits, four bits or six bits) 12½ cents (ie a quarter, a half, and three-quarters of a dollar, respectively). See also two-bit. a bit colloq 1 a short time or distance • Wait a bit. 2 a little; slightly; rather • feel a bit of a fool. 3 a lot • takes a bit of doing. a bit much or thick or rich colloq behaviour that is unacceptable, unreasonable or unfair. a bit of all right colloq someone or something very much approved of. a bit of rough see under rough. a bit off Brit colloq bad manners, taste or behaviour. bit by bit gradually; piecemeal. do one's bit colloq to do one's fair share. not a bit or not a bit of it not at all; not to any extent.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon bita in obsolete sense 'a portion of something bitten off at one time'; see bite.

bit² noun 1 a small metal bar which a horse holds in its mouth as part of the bridle with which it is controlled. 2 (also drill bit) a tool with a cutting edge, which can be fitted into a drill and turned at high speed. See also brace and bit. 3 the part of a key which connects with the lever in a lock. champ at the bit see under champ¹. take or get the bit between one's teeth to act decisively and with determination; to occupy or interest oneself keenly in something.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from Anglo-Saxon bite an act of biting.

bit³ noun, computing a binary digit with a value of either 0 or 1, representing the smallest piece of information that can be dealt with by a computer.
ETYMOLOGY: 1940s: a contraction of binary digit.

bit⁴ past tense of bite

bite verb (bit, bitten, biting) 1 tr & intr (sometimes bite something away or off or out) to grasp, seize or tear with the teeth. 2 tr & intr said of snakes and insects: to puncture a victim's skin (with the fangs, mouthparts, etc) and suck blood. 3 tr & intr to smart or sting, or to make something do so. 4 colloq to annoy or worry • What's biting him? 5 said of acid, etc: to eat into something chemically; to have a corrosive effect. 6 intrans to start to have an effect, usually an adverse one • The spending cuts are beginning to bite. 7 intrans, angling said of fish: to be caught on the hook on a fishing line, by taking the bait into the mouth. 8 intrans said of a wheel or screw, etc: to grip firmly. noun 1 an act or an instance of biting. 2 a wound or sting caused by biting. 3 a piece of something removed or taken, etc by biting; a mouthful • took a bite out of my apple. 4 colloq a small amount of food • a bite to eat. 5 strength, sharpness or bitterness of taste. 6 sharpness or incisiveness of words. 7 angling said of a fish: an act or an instance of biting or nibbling at the bait. biter noun. biting noun. bite off more than one can chew to agree or attempt to do more than one can manage; to over-estimate what one is capable of. bite one's tongue to restrain oneself from saying something one wants very much to say. bite someone's head off colloq to reply to them with unexpected or unnecessary fierceness or anger. bite the bullet to accept or face up to something unpleasant but unavoidable as bravely as possible. bite the dust colloq 1 said of a plan or project, etc: to fail or come to nothing; to be unsuccessful. 2 said of a person: to fall down dead; to be killed. bite the hand that feeds you to harm or show ingratitude towards a person who is being kind or helpful to you. put the bite on someone slang to extort or borrow money from them.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon bitan.