bit

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbit 

1

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

b

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

2

: something bitten or held with the teeth:

a

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

b

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

3

: something that curbs or restrains

4

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

Illustration of bit

• 1curb
• 2 snaffle

bit

2 of 4

verb

bitted; bitting

transitive verb

1

a

: 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)

b

: to control as if with a bit

2

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

bit

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural bits

1

: a small quantity of food

especially : a small delicacy

2

a

: 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.

see also two bits sense 1

3

: something small or unimportant of its kind: such as

a

: a brief period : while

wait a bit longer

see also a bit, a little bit

b

: an indefinite usually small degree, extent, or amount

a bit of a rascal

every bit as powerful

a bit too sweet

see also a bit, a bit much, a little bit

c theater

(1)

: a small part usually with spoken lines in a theatrical performance

a bit part

bit players

(2)

: a usually short theatrical routine

a corny comedy bit

4

: the aggregate of items, situations, or activities appropriate to a given style, genre, or role

rejected the whole bit about love-marriage-motherhood

—Vance Packard

bit

4 of 4

noun (3)

1

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

2

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

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• atom
• crumb
• dribble
• fleck
• flyspeck
• grain
• granule
• molecule
• morsel
• mote
• nubbin
• nugget
• particle
• patch
• scrap
• scruple
• snip
• snippet
• speck
• tittle

Examples of bit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The notion that the inheritors of that are a little bit impatient with it, or there’s something there that actually isn’t sustaining to them, is very interesting to me. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2024

This gives the tartar sauce a bit of oniony flavor without any crunchy raw bits, which tend to taste harsh. Step 2. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2024

This colorful drink is made with anejo (an aged tequila), orange liqueur, sweet vermouth, and fresh mint leaves for a cocktail that's sweet and a little bit sour. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024

The Dragons have been snake bit the past two games at the facility ending undefeated seasons each time. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024

Probably doctor’s offices, a little bit of pain and pharmaceutical companies. —Katie Suleta, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024

Our tester ordered their true size and found that, even with a little bit of pregnancy swelling, these shoes still fit perfectly because the band offers a little bit of give. —Jessica Booth, Parents, 5 Apr. 2024

Some of the best viewing in the nation was a little bit north of her clinic. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024

That last bit comes courtesy of a 2.9-liter turbo V6 that makes 444 hp and 442 pound-feet of torque. —Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 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

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

Phrases Containing bit

• a bit strong
• every bit
• hair of the dog (that bit you)
• bit rot
• sixpenny bit
• the whole bit
• a bit of crumpet
• a bit of a/an
• bit rate
• a wee bit
• a bit of all right
• a bit
• champing at the bit
• a bit much
• parity bit
• not a/one bit
• not a blind bit
• get/take the bit between one's teeth
• bit player
• not a bit of it
• two-bit
• not (in) the least/smallest/slightest/tiniest bit
• bit stream
• bit by bit
• do one's bit
• quite a bit
• chomping at the bit

Kids Definition

bit

1 of 3 noun

ˈbit 

1

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

2

: the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool

the drill bit

bit

2 of 3 noun

1

: a small piece or amount

2

: a short time

rest a bit

bit

3 of 3 noun

1

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

2

: 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