Search results for '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.

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.

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.