bit

/bɪt/

noun

  1. 1

    A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and connected to the reins to direct the animal.

    A horse hates having a bit put in its mouth.
  2. 2

    A rotary cutting tool fitted to a drill, used to bore holes.

  3. 3

    A coin of a specified value.

    a threepenny bit
  4. 4

    A ten-cent piece, dime.

  5. 5

    A unit of currency or coin in the Americas worth a fraction of a Spanish dollar; now specifically, an eighth of a US dollar.

    A quarter is two bits.
  6. 6

    In the southern and southwestern states, a small silver coin (such as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12½ cents; also, the sum of 12½ cents.

  7. 7

    A small amount of something.

    There were bits of paper all over the floor.   Does your leg still hurt? / Just a bit now.   I've done my bit; I expect you to do yours.
  8. 8

    Specifically, a small amount of time.

    I'll be there in a bit; I need to take care of something first.   He was here just a bit ago, but it looks like he's stepped out.
  9. 9

    (plural) Fractions of a second.

    The 400 metres race was won in 47 seconds and bits.
  10. 10

    A portion of something.

    I'd like a big bit of cake, please.
  11. 11

    Somewhat; something, but not very great; also used like jot and whit to express the smallest degree. See also a bit.

    Am I bored? Not a bit of it!
  12. 12

    A prison sentence, especially a short one.

  13. 13

    An excerpt of material making up part of a show, comedy routine, etc.

    His bit about video games was not nearly as entertaining as the other segments of his show.
  14. 14

    A small part or role, sometimes with spoken lines, in a theatrical performance.

    She acted her bit in the opening scene.
  15. 15

    The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers.

  16. 16

    The cutting iron of a plane.

  17. 17

    The bevelled front edge of an axehead along which the cutting edge runs.

verb

  1. 1

    To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of (a horse).

adjective

  1. 1

    Bitten.

    Even though he's bit, of course the zombies would still chase him.
  2. 2

    (only in combination) Having been bitten.

verb

  1. 1

    To cut into something by clamping the teeth.

    As soon as you bite that sandwich, you'll know how good it is.
  2. 2

    To hold something by clamping one's teeth.

  3. 3

    To attack with the teeth.

    That dog is about to bite!
  4. 4

    To behave aggressively; to reject advances.

    If you see me, come and say hello. I don't bite.
  5. 5

    To take hold; to establish firm contact with.

    I needed snow chains to make the tires bite.
  6. 6

    To have significant effect, often negative.

    For homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages, rising interest will really bite.
  7. 7

    (of a fish) To bite a baited hook or other lure and thus be caught.

    Are the fish biting today?
  8. 8

    To accept something offered, often secretly or deceptively, to cause some action by the acceptor.

    I've planted the story. Do you think they'll bite?
  9. 9

    (of an insect) To sting.

    These mosquitoes are really biting today!
  10. 10

    To cause a smarting sensation; to have a property which causes such a sensation; to be pungent.

    It bites like pepper or mustard.
  11. 11

    (sometimes figurative) To cause sharp pain or damage to; to hurt or injure.

    Pepper bites the mouth.
  12. 12

    To cause sharp pain; to produce anguish; to hurt or injure; to have the property of so doing.

  13. 13

    To take or keep a firm hold.

    The anchor bites.
  14. 14

    To take hold of; to hold fast; to adhere to.

    The anchor bites the ground.
  15. 15

    To lack quality; to be worthy of derision; to suck.

    This music really bites.
  16. 16

    To perform oral sex on. Used in invective.

    You don't like that I sat on your car? Bite me.
  17. 17

    To plagiarize, to imitate.

    He always be biting my moves.
  18. 18

    To deceive or defraud; to take in.

noun

  1. 1

    A binary digit, generally represented as a 1 or 0.

  2. 2

    The smallest unit of storage in a digital computer, consisting of a binary digit.

  3. 3

    Any datum that may take on one of exactly two values.

    permission bits in a file system
  4. 4

    A unit of measure for information entropy.

  5. 5

    A microbitcoin, or a millionth of a bitcoin (0.000001 BTC).

Synonyms

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