A bitof something is a small part or section of it.
[mainly British]
That's the bit of the meeting that I missed. [+ of]
Now comes the really important bit.
The best bit was walking along the glacier.
Synonyms: part, moment, period More Synonyms of bit
8. countable noun
A bit of something is a small piece of it.
[mainly British]
Only a bit of string looped round a nail in the doorpost held it shut. [+ of]
...crumpled bits of paper. [+ of]
Synonyms: piece, scrap, small piece More Synonyms of bit
9. countable noun
You can use bit to refer to a particular item or to one of a group or set of things. For example, a bitof information is an item of information.
There was one bit of vital evidence which helped win the case. [+ of]
Not one single bit of work has been started towards the repair of this road. [+ of]
10. singular noun [the supp N]
You use bit in expressions such as the charity bit and the whole marriage bit to refer to everything that is involved in something, when you do not think it is important.
[informal, disapproval]
11. countable noun
In computing, a bit is the smallest unit of information that is held in a computer's memory. It is either 1 or 0. Several bits form a byte.
[computing]
12. countable noun
A bit is 12½ cents; mainly used in expressions such as two bits, which means 25 cents, or four bits, which means 50 cents.
[US]
13. countable noun
A bit is a piece of metal that is held in a horse's mouth and is used to control the horsewhen you are riding.
14.
Bit is the past tense of bite.
15.
See bit by bit
16.
See champ at the bit
17.
See do your bit
18.
See every bit as
19.
See a bit much
20.
See not a bit
21.
See not a bit of it
22.
See bits and pieces
23.
See to get the bit between your teeth
24.
See to bits
25. thrilled to bits
More Synonyms of bit
bit in British English1
(bɪt)
noun
1.
a small piece, portion, or quantity
2.
a short time or distance
3. US and Canadian informal
the value of an eighth of a dollar: spoken of only in units of two
two bits
4.
any small coin
5. short for bit part
6. informal
way of behaving, esp one intended to create a particular impression
she's doing the prima donna bit
7. a bit
8. a bit of
9. a bit of all right
10. bit by bit
11. bit on the side
12. do one's bit
13. every bit
14. not a bit
15. to bits
Word origin
Old English bite action of biting; see bite
bit in British English2
(bɪt)
noun
1.
a metal mouthpiece, for controlling a horse on a bridle
2.
anything that restrains or curbs
3. take the bit in one's teeth
4.
a cutting or drilling tool, part, or head in a brace, drill, etc
5.
the blade of a woodworking plane
6.
the part of a pair of pincers designed to grasp an object
7.
the copper end of a soldering iron
8.
the part of a key that engages the levers of a lock
verbWord forms: bits, bitting or bitted(transitive)
9.
to put a bit in the mouth of (a horse)
10.
to restrain; curb
Word origin
Old English bita; related to Old English bītan to bite
bit in British English3
(bɪt)
verb
the past tense and (archaic) past participle of bite
bit in British English4
(bɪt)
noun mathematics, computing
1.
a single digit of binary notation, represented either by 0 or by 1
2.
the smallest unit of information, indicating the presence or absence of a single feature
3.
a unit of capacity of a computer, consisting of an element of its physical structure capable of being in either of two states, such as a switch with on and off positions, or a microscopic magnet capable of alignment in two directions
Word origin
C20: from abbreviation of binary digit
bit in American English1
(bɪt)
noun
1.
the part of a bridle that goes into a horse's mouth, used to control the horse
2.
anything that curbs or controls
3.
the part of a pipestem held in the mouth
4.
the part of a key that actually turns the lock
5.
the cutting part of any tool, as the blade of a plane
6.
a drilling or boring tool for use in a brace, drill press, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈbitted or ˈbitting
7.
a.
to put a bit into the mouth of (a horse)
b.
to train to the bit
8.
to check or curb
9.
to make the bit on (a key)
Idioms:
take the bit in one's teeth
Word origin
ME < OE bite, a bite < bītan, bite
bit in American English2
(bɪt)
noun
1.
a.
a small piece or quantity
b.
a small extent or limited degree
often used with a and having adverbial force
a bit bored
c.
a short time; moment
wait a bit
2. US, Informal
an amount equal to 121⁄2 cents
now usually in two bits, four bits, etc.
3. US
a.
a small part or short performance in a play or entertainment
b. Informal
any stereotyped or repeated action, expression, etc.
resorting to the aggrieved bit
adjective
4.
very small
a bit role
Idioms:
bit by bit
do one's bit
every bit
Word origin
ME bite < OE bita, a piece, morsel, bit < bitan, to bite; (sense 2) orig. used of a small silver coin worth 1⁄8 of the Spanish peso (hence, normally 121⁄2 cents)
bit in American English3
(bɪt)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
pt. & alt. pp. of
bite
bit in American English4
(bɪt)
noun
1.
a single digit in a binary number system
2.
a unit of information equal to the amount of information obtained by learning which of two equally likely events occurred
Word origin
b(inary) (dig)it
bit in Mechanical Engineering
(bɪt)
Word forms: (regular plural) bits
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
A bit is a tool for cutting or drilling that is usually held by a drill.
There are different sized drill bits for drilling different sized holes.
The gouge bit is sharpened on the bottom edge only because if the sides are sharp they will enlargethe hole as the drill advances.
A bit is a tool for cutting or drilling that is usually held by a drill.
bit in Electrical Engineering
(bɪt)
Word forms: (regular plural) bits
noun
(Electrical engineering: Circuits, Computing and control)
A bit is the unit of information in information theory, consisting of the amount of information required to specify one of two alternatives 0 and 1.
Bits are the basic unit of digital information.
A byte is eight binary digits, or bits.
A bit is the unit of information in information theory, consisting of the amount of informationrequired to specify one of two alternatives 0 and 1.
bit error rate, parity bit
More idioms containing
bit
the biter gets bit
get the bit between your teeth
champ at the bit
Examples of 'bit' in a sentence
bit
He likes to put the needle in a little bit once in a while.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We found one which looked a bit tacky but the beer was cheap so we stayed.
The Sun (2016)
This oddly structured track takes a bit of getting into.
The Sun (2016)
You can have too much of a good thing and then feel a bit sick.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But it looks a bit too much like a dribble of concrete.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We lost six members of staff and to replace that with one seems a bit crazy.
The Sun (2016)
We have asked the police for a bit of information but they have said that they cannot tell us.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
If you prefer a bit more bite to your apple, leave out this cooking step.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I love the horse to bits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You feel a bit left out sometimes.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The fans will not mind one bit.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We just want to save a few bits of our past for the future.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Why not have something a bit different?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It’s much easier for me if you can be a little bit happy and enjoy things.
E. Nesbit The Railway Children (1906)
They worked a lot harder and had a bit more bite in the tackle.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She professed to find all the fuss a bit much.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Will be glad when retreat is over and can get a bit of peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Many have been bit parts and this is his biggest role.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You have to enjoy it and put a bit of yourself into the performance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Give away bits to charity shops instead.
The Sun (2013)
You just have to decide which bits are most important to you.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
My next two marriages were a bit on the rebound.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What is the smallest known bit of matter?
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
The road was littered with bits and pieces.
Stewart, Bob (Lt-Col) Broken Lives (1993)
What could anyone do but have a bit of a think?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So unmistakable that one bit of the city can too easily seem like the next.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It went past in a bit of a blur.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Well the free and impartial bit is good, but the guidance bit is less positive.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I do feel like a bit of an anthropologist.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Word lists with
bit
Tack and equipment and their parts, tool
In other languages
bit
British English: bit /bɪt/ NOUN
A bit of something is a small amount of it, or a small part of it.
I ate a bit of bread.
American English: bit
Arabic: جُزْء صَغِير
Brazilian Portuguese: pedaço
Chinese: 小块
Croatian: komadić
Czech: kousek
Danish: smule
Dutch: beetje
European Spanish: pedazo pequeño
Finnish: palanen
French: morceau
German: Stückchen
Greek: τεμάχιο
Italian: pezzo
Japanese: 小片
Korean: 작은 조각
Norwegian: stykke
Polish: kawałek
European Portuguese: pedaço
Romanian: puțin
Russian: кусочек a small piece
Latin American Spanish: pedazo
Swedish: stycke bit
Thai: เล็กๆ น้อยๆ
Turkish: parça
Ukrainian: шматок
Vietnamese: miếng
All related terms of 'bit'
bite
If you bite something, you use your teeth to cut into it, for example in order to eat it or break it. If an animal or person bites you, they use their teeth to hurt or injure you.
a bit
A bit of something is a small amount of it.
gag-bit
a powerful type of bit used in breaking horses
PDC bit
A PDC bit is a drill bit fitted with industrial diamond cutters instead of hardened metal teeth.
two-bit
You use two-bit to describe someone or something that you have no respect for or that you think is inferior .
bit part
A bit part is a small and unimportant role for an actor in a film or play.
bit rate
the rate of flow of binary digits in a digital data-processing system, usually expressed as the number of bits per second
bit slice
(of central processing units ) able to be built up in sections to form complete central processing units with various word lengths
curb bit
something that restrains or holds back
drill bit
A drill bit is a tool used to cut or crush rock.
every bit
to the same degree
frog-bit
a floating aquatic Eurasian plant, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae , with heart-shaped leaves and white flowers: family Hydrocharitaceae
bit by bit
If something happens bit by bit , it happens in stages .
a bit of
rather
bit player
a person with a very small acting role with few lines to speak
center bit
a bit with a sharp , projecting center point and cutting wings on either side
centre bit
a drilling bit with a central projecting point and two side cutters
devil's bit
devil's bit scabious
frog's-bit
designating a family (Hydrocharitaceae, order Hydrocharitales) of submerged , monocotyledonous aquatic plants, including elodea and tape grass
not a bit
You use not a bit when you want to make a strong negative statement .
parity bit
In binary notation , a parity bit is an additional bit that is attached to each code group so that the total number of 1s being transmitted is either odd or even .
snaffle bit
a simple jointed bit for a horse
tricone bit
A tricone bit is a drill bit with a head that is divided into three main parts.
a bit mean
If someone is being mean , they are being unkind to another person, for example by not allowing them to do something.
a bit much
If you say that something is a bit much , you are annoyed because you think someone has behaved in an unreasonable way.
thrupenny bit
a twelve-sided British coin of nickel-brass, valued at three old pence , obsolete since 1971
wait-a-bit
any of various plants having sharp hooked thorns or similar appendages , esp the greenbrier and the grapple plant
a bit of a
You can use a bit of to make a statement less forceful . For example , the statement 'It's a bit of a nuisance ' is less forceful than 'It's a nuisance'.
a bit thick
unfair or excessive
bit of fluff
a girl or young woman
countersink bit
a tool for countersinking
do one's bit
to make one's expected contribution
do your bit
If you do your bit , you do something that, to a small or limited extent , helps to achieve something.
quite a bit
Quite a bit means quite a lot .
threepenny bit
a twelve-sided British coin of nickel-brass, valued at three old pence , obsolete since 1971
bit error rate
A bit error rate is the measure of the number of incorrect bits that can be expected in a specified number of bits in a serial stream .
brace and bit
a hand tool for boring holes, consisting of a cranked handle into which a drilling bit is inserted
mill tooth bit
A mill tooth bit is a tricone bit with steel teeth on each cone that are made of the same type of steel as the main part of the bit.
bite back
If you bite back a feeling or something that you were going to say , you stop yourself from expressing it.
crib-biting
a harmful habit of horses in which the animal leans on the manger or seizes it with the teeth and swallows a gulp of air
a bit, for a bit
If you do something a bit , you do it for a short time. In British English , you can also say that you do something for a bit .
a bit of skirt
a woman considered sexually
bit on the side
an extramarital affair
chafe at the bit
to be impatient or vexed , as because of delay
champ at the bit
If someone is champing at the bit or is chomping at the bit , they are very impatient to do something, but they are prevented from doing it, usually by circumstances that they have no control over.
chomp at the bit
→ champ at the bit ( see phrase under → champ 1 )
roller cone bit
A roller cone bit is a tool used for crushing rock, which has three cones that rotate , with attached hardened metal teeth which break the rock into small pieces.
devil's bit scabious
a similar and related Eurasian marsh plant, Succisa pratensis
not a bit of it
You say not a bit of it to emphasize that something that you might expect to be the case is not the case.
the biter gets bit
said to mean that someone suffers as a result of their own actions, especially when they were trying to hurt someone else
Chinese translation of 'bit'
bit
(bɪt)
pt
ofbite
n(c)
(esp Brit, = piece) 少许(許) (shǎoxǔ)
⇒ a bit of string一小段绳子 (yī xiǎo duàn shéngzi)
(esp Brit, = part) 部分 (bùfen) (个(個), gè)
⇒ Now comes the really important bit.现在要说的是最重要的部分。 (Xiànzài yào shuō de shì zuì zhòngyào de bùfen.)
(= tool) 钻(鑽)头(頭) (zuàntóu)
(Comput) 比特 (bǐtè) (个(個), gè)
[of horse]嚼子 (jiáozi)
(US, = coin) 12.5美分的硬币
to come or fall to bits (= break) 破碎 (pòsuì)
bits and pieces or bits and bobs (inf) 零碎儿(兒) (língsuìr)
a bit of有点(點) (yǒudiǎn)
⇒ I'm sorry, the room's in a bit of a mess.对不起，房间有点乱。 (Duìbuqǐ, fángjiān yǒu diǎn luàn.)
a bit mad/dangerous有点(點)疯(瘋)狂/危险(險) (yǒu diǎn fēngkuáng/wēixiǎn)
it's/that's a bit much (inf) 有点(點)过(過)分 (yǒu diǎn guòfèn)
bit by bit一点(點)一点(點) (yīdiǎn yīdiǎn)
to do one's bit尽(盡)自己的一份力量 (jìn zìjǐ de yī fèn lìliang)
every bit as good/interesting as与(與) ... 同样(樣)好/有趣 (yǔ ... tóngyàng hǎo/yǒuqù)
for a bit (inf) 一会(會)儿(兒) (yīhuìr)
quite a bit不少 (bù shǎo)
bite
(bait)
Word forms:ptbit
Word forms:ppbitten (ˈbɪtn)
vt
[person, dog, snake, mosquito]咬 (yǎo)
vi
[dog etc]咬人 (yǎo rén)
(fig, = take effect)[action, policy]生效 (shēngxiào)
n(c)
(= act of biting)
⇒ He took another bite of his apple.他又咬了一口苹果。 (Tā yòu yǎole yī kǒu píngguǒ.)
(= mouthful) 口 (kǒu)
⇒ I enjoyed every bite.我每一口吃得都很香。 (Wǒ měi yī kǒu chī de dōu hěn xiāng.)
(from dog) 咬伤(傷) (yǎoshāng) (处, chù)
(from snake, mosquito) 咬痕 (yǎohén) (个(個), gè)
to bite one's nails咬指甲 (yǎo zhǐjia)
to bite one's lip or tongue (inf) 保持沉默 (bǎochí chénmò)
to have a bite to eat (inf) 吃点(點)东(東)西 (chī diǎn dōngxi)
All related terms of 'bit'
bite
( person, dog, snake, mosquito ) 咬 yǎo
bit by bit
一点(點)一点(點) yīdiǎn yīdiǎn
a bit of
有点(點) yǒudiǎn ⇒ I'm sorry, the room's in a bit of a mess. → 对不起，房间有点乱。 Duìbuqǐ, fángjiān yǒu diǎn luàn.
for a bit
( inf ) 一会(會)儿(兒) yīhuìr
a tiny bit
微乎其微 wēi hū qí wēi
quite a bit
不少 bù shǎo
a little bit
( adj ) 有点(點) yǒudiǎn
to do one's bit
尽(盡)自己的一份力量 jìn zìjǐ de yī fèn lìliang
a bit mad/dangerous
有点(點)疯(瘋)狂/危险(險) yǒu diǎn fēngkuáng/wēixiǎn
I'm a bit doubtful
我有点(點)怀(懷)疑 wǒ yǒu diǎn huáiyí
not the slightest bit
一点(點)也不 yīdiǎn yě bù
it's a bit chilly today
今天有点(點)冷 jīntiān yǒu diǎn lěng
it's/that's a bit much
( inf ) 有点(點)过(過)分 yǒu diǎn guòfèn
little by little, bit by bit
一点(點)一点(點)地 yīdiǎn-yīdiǎn de
every bit as good/interesting as
与(與) ... 同样(樣)好/有趣 yǔ ... tóngyàng hǎo/yǒuqù
next time, be a bit more careful
下一次，要更谨(謹)慎些 xài yī cì, yào gèng jǐnshèn xiē
1 (noun)
Definition
a small piece, portion, or quantity
a bit of cake
Synonyms
slice
segment
I handed out segments of orange at half-time.
fragment
She read everything, digesting every fragment of news.
crumb
I stood up, brushing crumbs from my trousers.
mouthful
Could I try a mouthful of that?
small piece
morsel
a delicious little morsel of meat
chip
grain
a grain of sand
speck
He leaned forward and brushed a speck of dust off his shoes.
atom
one carbon atom attached to four hydrogens
mite
2 (noun)
Definition
a small piece, portion, or quantity
crumpled bits of paper
Synonyms
piece
a piece of wood
Another piece of cake?
scrap
a fire fuelled by scraps of wood
small piece
3 (noun)
Definition
a small piece, portion, or quantity
All it required was a bit of work.
Synonyms
jot
It doesn't affect my judgement one jot.
whit
It does not make one whit of difference what we do.
tittle
iota
Our credit standards have not changed one iota.
4 (noun)
The best bit was the car chase.
Synonyms
part
The engine only has three moving parts.
moment
period
5 (noun)
Definition
a short time or distance
Let's wait a bit.
Synonyms
little while
time
It seemed like a good time to tell her.
second
For a few seconds nobody said anything.
minute
I'll be with you in a minute.
moment
In a moment he was gone.
spell
There has been a spell of dry weather.
instant
The pain disappeared in an instant.
tick (British, informal)
I'll be back in a tick.
jiffy (informal)
I'll have this truck fixed in a jiffy.
phrase
See a bit
idioms
See bit by bit
See do your bit
(noun)
Definition
a metal mouthpiece on a bridle for controlling a horse
The horse can be controlled by a snaffle bit and reins.
Synonyms
curb
He called for much stricter curbs on spending.
check
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.
brake
Illness had put a brake on his progress.
restraint
Criminals could cross into the country without restraint.
snaffle
idiom
See take the bit in or between your teeth
Additional synonyms
in the sense of atom
Definition
a very small amount
one carbon atom attached to four hydrogens
Synonyms
particle,
bit,
spot,
trace,
scrap,
molecule,
grain,
dot,
fragment,
fraction,
shred,
crumb,
mite,
jot,
speck,
morsel,
mote,
whit,
tittle,
iota,
scintilla (rare)
in the sense of brake
Definition
something that slows down or stops progress
Illness had put a brake on his progress.
Synonyms
control,
check,
curb,
restraint,
constraint,
rein,
damper
in the sense of check
Definition
a means to ensure against fraud or error
There is a check on the number of people allowed in the venue.