bite

1 of 2

verb

ˈbīt 

bit ˈbit  ; bitten ˈbi-tᵊn  also bit; biting ˈbī-tiŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound

was bitten by a dog

b

: to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis

getting bitten by mosquitoes

a snake bit his leg

2

: to cut or pierce with or as if with an edged weapon

bit by his sword

3

: to cause sharp pain or stinging discomfort to

the sleet biting our faces

4

: to take hold of

help the pliers bite the part

5

archaic : to take in : cheat

intransitive verb

1

: to bite or have the habit of biting something

This cat bites.

2

of a weapon or tool : to cut, pierce, or take hold

bites down on the part

The anchor bites into the ocean floor.

3

: to cause irritation or smarting

Her criticisms really bite.

4

: corrode

5

a

of fish : to take a bait

The fish aren't biting today.

b

: to respond so as to be caught (as by a trick)

c

: to accept a suggestion or an offer

offered them a deal but they wouldn't bite

6

: to take or maintain a firm hold

The anchor didn't bite well.

7

: to produce a negative effect

the recession began to bite

8

chiefly US slang, sometimes vulgar : to be objectionable or extremely bad in quality : stink, suck

This song bites.

9

US slang : to imitate or copy (someone or something) especially without permission

There are lots of rappers biting his style—but there's only one James Brown!

—Spin

biter

ˈbī-tər 

noun

bite

2 of 2

noun

plural bites

1

a

: the act of biting

took a bite of the sandwich

felt a bite at the end of the fishing line

b

: the manner of biting

especially, dentistry : occlusion sense 1b

wore braces to correct her bite

2

: food: such as

a

: the amount of food taken at a bite : morsel

couldn't eat another bite

b

: a small amount of food : snack

have a bite to eat

3

archaic

a

: cheat, trick

b

: sharper

4

: a wound made by biting

The bite became infected.

5

: the hold or grip by which friction (see friction sense 1b) is created or purchase (see purchase entry 2 sense 3a(1)) is obtained

6

: a surface that creates friction or is brought into contact with another for the purpose of obtaining a hold

7

a

: a keen incisive quality

a writing style that lacks bite

a satirical bite

b

: a sharp penetrating effect

The soup has a peppery bite.

the bite of the wind on our cheeks

8

etching : a single exposure of an etcher's plate to the corrosive action of acid

9

: an amount (as of money) taken usually in one operation for one purpose : share

a 15 percent bite for his manager

10

: sound bite

a 10-second news bite

11

: an expression of interest in something being offered

In seven previous days, the seller didn't get a single bite [=no one expressed interest in buying what was offered].

—Jerry Garrett et al.

Phrases

bite off more than one can chew

: to undertake more than one can handle

bite one's tongue

: to hold back (as from a reluctance to offend) a remark one would like to make

bite the bullet

: to enter with resignation upon a difficult or distressing course of action

bite the dust

1

: to fall dead especially in battle

2

a

: to suffer humiliation or defeat

b

: to come to an end

bite the hand that feeds one

: to injure a benefactor maliciously

Synonyms

Verb

• smell
• stink
• suck [informal + sometimes impolite]

Noun

• acerbity
• acidity
• acidness
• acridity
• acridness
• acrimoniousness
• acrimony
• acuteness
• asperity
• bitterness
• edge
• harshness
• keenness
• poignance
• poignancy
• pungency
• roughness
• sharpness
• tartness

Examples of bite in a Sentence

Verb

The hamster bit the child.

She bit the cookie in half.

Some people bite their nails when they feel nervous.

A wild animal may bite if it is frightened.

The patient had been bitten by a poisonous snake.

The mosquitoes are biting tonight.

Are the fish biting today?

Noun

He ate the candy bar in three quick bites.

She gave her lip a gentle bite.

The fisherman felt a bite at the end of his line and reeled in a fish.

My teenage daughter wears a special device at night to correct her bite.

Don't scratch that mosquito bite.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s also an on-site bar/lounge serving wine, cocktails, and light bites, and a coffee shop and cafe located next door in the Salish Visitors Center. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

There were 28 unprovoked shark bites in the U.S. last year, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File. —Alexandra Faul, ABC News, 19 June 2025

This potential trilogy is off to a solid — if not spectacular — start, though more bite would have been welcome. —Mark Meszoros, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025

The birds’ absence also allowed feral dogs to proliferate, which led to an uptick in dog bites and rabies cases. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English biten, going back to Old English bītan, going back to Germanic *bītan- (whence Old Saxon bītan "to bite, cut into," Old High German bīzan, Old Norse bíta, Gothic beitan), going back to Indo-European *b^hei̯d- "split," whence also Latin findere "to split, cleave, divide" (from a derivative *b^hi-n-d-), Sanskrit abhet "has split," bhinátti "(s/he) splits" and perhaps Greek pheídomai, pheídesthai "to spare, save, refrain from"

Noun

derivative of bite entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bite

• bite back
• bite plate
• bite-size
• bite-sized
• bite someone's head off
• come back to bite one
• put the bite on
• rat-bite fever
• someone's bark is worse than his/her bite
• sound bite
• won't bite

Rhymes for bite

• bight
• blight
• byte
• cite
• dight
• fight
• fite
• flight
• fright
• height
• hight
• kite

Kids Definition

bite

1 of 2 verb

ˈbīt 

bit ˈbit  ; bitten ˈbit-ən  ; biting ˈbīt-iŋ 

1

: to seize, grip, or cut into with or as if with teeth

bite an apple

2

: to wound, pierce, or sting

bitten by a snake

a mosquito bit me

3

: to cause to smart : sting

pepper bites the mouth

4

: to eat into

acid biting into metal

5

: to take bait

the fish are biting

6

: to respond to something tempting

bite

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a seizing of something by biting

b

: the grip taken in biting

2

a

: the amount of food taken at a bite

b

: a small amount of food : snack

3

: a wound made by biting

4

: a sharp penetrating quality or effect

the bite of the cold wind on our cheeks

Etymology

Verb

Old English bītan "to bite, grip with the teeth" — related to beetle

Medical Definition

bite

1 of 2 verb

ˈbīt 

bit ˈbit  ; bitten ˈbit-ᵊn  also bit; biting ˈbīt-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound

2

: to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis

intransitive verb

: to bite or have the habit of biting something

bite

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or manner of biting

especially : occlusion sense 2a

2

: a wound made by biting