bit

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbit

Synonyms of bit next

a(1)

: the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool

(2)

: a replaceable part of a compound tool that actually performs the function (such as drilling or boring) for which the whole tool is designed

put a new bit in the drill

used a 1/4 inch bit to make the hole

bits plural : the jaws (see jaw entry 1 sense 2a) of tongs or pincers

: something bitten or held with the teeth:

: the usually steel part of a bridle inserted in the mouth of a horse

: the rimmed mouth end on the stem of a pipe or cigar holder

: something that curbs or restrains

: the part of a key that enters the lock and acts on the bolt and tumblers (see tumbler sense 3a)

bit

2 of 4

verb

bitted; bitting

transitive verb

: to put part of a bridle in the mouth of (a horse) : to put a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 2a) in the mouth of (a horse)

: to control as if with a bit

: to form a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 4) on (a key)

bit

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural bits

: a small quantity of food

especially : a small delicacy

: a small piece or quantity of some material thing

broken bits of glass

picking bits of lint off her sweater

b(1)

British : a coin of a specified small denomination

a threepenny bit

(2)

: a unit of value equal to ¹/₈ of a U.S. dollar (12 ¹/₂ cents)

—used only of even multiples

four bits

Note: No coin was ever issued in this amount.

noun (3)

computers : a unit of computer information equivalent to the result of a choice between two alternatives (such as yes or no, on or off)

computers : the physical representation of a bit by an electrical pulse, a magnetized spot, or a hole whose presence or absence indicates data

Phrases

bit by bit

: by degrees : little by little

getting better bit by bit

to bits

: totally, thoroughly

thrilled to bits

Examples of bit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are no appeals for which the juicy bits must be saved. —

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024 According to a release from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, a bear cub bit one of the people during the interaction. —

Ryley Ober, USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024 Her curiosity about the world feeds her interest in helping people reduce the shopping noise and make decisions that just might improve their quality of life or make the everyday a little bit sweeter. —

Isabella Ubaldi, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024 Having everything together in one place makes the early days of your fourth trimester a little bit easier. —

Katrina Cossey, Parents, 18 Apr. 2024 Sometimes this means there is a shortfall for farmers; other times, there’s no financial loss due to the reduction of input costs, thanks to needing less fertilizer or fewer expensive bits of machinery. —

Jessica Rawnsley, WIRED, 18 Apr. 2024 The standoff features an impressive bit of fight choreography on Sawai's part. —

Ashley Boucher, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2024 All of these algorithms need a little bit of training data in order to be able to generalize. —

Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024 Speaking of safety, Mixon offered another bit of advice: Invest in a meat thermometer. —

Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2024

Verb

Identify the snake: If possible, try to identify the species of rattlesnake that bit the victim. —

The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 His chest still bears a deep indentation from something that bit him in his first week. —

Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2024 Communication errors bit them numerous times last week at Baltimore. —

Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024 The escalating tensions have been well documented in town Facebook groups and the local paper: In 2022, neighbors were aghast when a resident from the Pleasantville campus stole a chicken from a coop in a nearby backyard and bit its head off. —

Abigail Kramer, ProPublica, 3 Jan. 2024 The bear charged and bit the man several times, according to the sheriff's office. —

Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2023 Mammals bit back at dinosaurs Mammals were not the meek underdogs of the Mesozoic world that they’ve often been characterized as. —

Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2023 Future work may reveal more about the type of creature that bit Eustace. —

Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023 However, when Jacob took the shell out of his pocket to give to her, a blue-ringed octopus emerged and bit him — seconds before the toddler held the shell in her own hands. —

Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 5 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bite, bit "bite of an animal, cutting edge, point, mouthpiece of a bridle," going back to Old English bite "bite of an animal, cut from a weapon," going back to Germanic *biti- (whence Old Saxon biti "bite, sting," Old High German biz [gebiz "mouthpiece of a bridle"], Old Norse bit), noun derivative from the base of *bītan- "to bite" — more at bite entry 1

Verb

derivative of bit entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English bite, bit "mouthful of food, morsel," going back to Old English bita, bite, going back to Germanic *bitan- (whence Middle Dutch bete "morsel," Old High German bizzo, Old Norse biti), noun derivative from the base of *bītan- "to bite" — more at bite entry 1

Noun (3)

from binary digit

Note: The term bit was introduced into general circulation by Claude shannon in "A Mathematical Theory of Communication," Bell System Technical Journal, vol. 27, July, 1948, p. 380: "The choice of a logarithmic base corresponds to the choice of a unit for measuring information. If the base 2 is used the resulting units may be called binary digits, or more briefly bits, a word suggested by J.W. Tukey." The American mathematician John W. Tukey (1915-2000) had used the word in a Bell Labs memorandum, "Sequential Conversion of Continuous Data to Digital Data," dated January 9, 1947. Tukey employed bit as a counterpart in a binary system to digit in the decimal system. For details see "The Origin of Bit" in the "Anecdotes" section of Annals of the History of Computing, vol 6, no. 2 (April, 1984), pp. 152-55.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of bit was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bit. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

bit

1 of 3 noun

ˈbit

: the usually metal bar attached to a bridle and put in the mouth of a horse

: the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool

the drill bit

bit

2 of 3 noun

: a small piece or amount

: a short time

rest a bit

bit

3 of 3 noun

: a unit of computer information that represents the selection of one of two possible choices (as yes or no, on or off)

: something (as an electrical pulse, a magnetized spot, or a punched hole) that physically represents a bit

Etymology

Noun

Old English bite "act of biting"

Noun

earlier bit "small piece of food," from Old English bita (same meaning)

Noun

binary digit

Last Updated: 23 Apr 2024 - Updated example sentences

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bit

noun (1)

Illustration of bit

verb

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Examples of bit in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near bit

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition