Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense bites, present participle biting, past tense bit, past participle bitten
1. verb
If you bite something, you use your teeth to cut into it, for example in order to eat it or breakit. If an animal or person bites you, they use their teeth to hurt or injure you.
Both sisters bit their nails as children. [VERB noun]
He bit into his sandwich. [VERB + into]
He had bitten the cigarette in two. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Every year in this country more than 50,000 children are bitten by dogs. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
Llamas won't bite or kick. [VERB]
Synonyms: nip, cut, tear, wound More Synonyms of bite
2. countable noun
A bite of something, especially food, is the action of biting it.
He took another bite of apple. [+ of]
You cannot eat a bun in one bite.
Synonyms: nibble, taste, peck, munch More Synonyms of bite
A bite is also the amount of food you take into your mouth when you bite it.
Look forward to eating the food and enjoy every bite.
3. singular noun [usually NOUN to-infinitive]
If you have a bite to eat, you have a small meal or a snack.
[informal]
It was time to go home for a little rest and a bite to eat.
4. verb
If a snake or a small insect bites you, it makes a mark or hole in your skin, and often causes the surrounding areaof your skin to become painful or itchy.
When an infected mosquito bites a human, spores are injected into the blood. [VERB noun]
We were all badly bitten by mosquitoes. [beVERB-ed]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: sting, wound, prick More Synonyms of bite
5. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A bite is an injury or a mark on your body where an animal, snake, or small insect has bitten you.
Any dog bite, no matter how small, needs immediate medical attention.
6. verb
When an action or policy begins to bite, it begins to have a serious or harmful effect.
As the sanctions begin to bite there will be more political difficulties ahead. [VERB]
The recession started biting deeply into British industry. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: take effect, work, be effective, take hold More Synonyms of bite
7. verb
If an object bites into a surface, it presses hard against it or cuts into it.
There may even be some wire or nylon biting into the flesh. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The car's tires bit loudly on the rutted snow in the street. [VERB preposition/adverb, VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
8. uncountable noun
If you say that a food or drink has bite, you like it because it has a strong or sharp taste.
[approval]
...the addition of tartaric acid to give the wine some bite.
9. singular noun
If the air or the wind has a bite, it feels very cold.
There was a bite in the air, a smell perhaps of snow.
Synonyms: chill, nip, sharpness, coolness More Synonyms of bite
10. uncountable noun
If something such as a performance or a piece of writing has bite, it is exciting or effective.
The teams have that extra bite when they are playing against their neighbours.
The novel seems to lack bite and tension–even passion.
Synonyms: edge, interest, force, punch [informal] More Synonyms of bite
11. verb
If a fish bites when you are fishing, it takes the hook or bait at the end of your fishing line in its mouth.
After half an hour, the fish stopped biting and we moved on. [VERB]
Bite is also a noun.
If I don't get a bite in a few minutes I lift the rod and twitch the bait.
12. countable noun [usually NOUNof noun]
A biteof something is a small part or amount of it.
...bites of conversation.
13. See also love bite, nail-biting
14.
See to bite the hand that feeds you
15.
See bite someone's head off
16.
See bite one's lip
17.
See take a bite out of
18. someone's bark is worse than their bite
19. to bite the bullet
20. to bite off more than one can chew
21. to bite the dust
22. once bitten, twice shy
Phrasal verbs:
See bite back
More Synonyms of bite
bite in British English
(baɪt)
verbWord forms: bites, biting, bit or bitten
1.
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
2.
(of animals, insects, etc) to injure by puncturing or tearing (the skin or flesh) with the teeth, fangs, etc, esp as a natural characteristic
3. (transitive)
to cut or penetrate, as with a knife
4.
(of corrosive material such as acid) to eat away or into
5.
to smart or cause to smart; sting
mustard bites the tongue
6. (intransitive) angling
(of a fish) to take or attempt to take the bait or lure
7.
to take firm hold of or act effectively upon
8.
to grip or hold (a workpiece) with a tool or chuck
9.
(of a screw, thread, etc) to cut into or grip (an object, material, etc)
10. (transitive) informal
to annoy or worry
what's biting her?
11. (often passive) slang
to cheat
12. (transitive; often foll byfor) Australian and New Zealand slang
to ask (for); scrounge from
13. bite off more than one can chew
14. bite the bullet
15. bite the dust
16. bite the hand that feeds one
17. bite someone's head off
18. once bitten, twice shy
noun
19.
the act of biting
20.
a thing or amount bitten off
21.
a wound, bruise, or sting inflicted by biting
22. angling
an attempt by a fish to take the bait or lure
23. informal
an incisive or penetrating effect or quality
that's a question with a bite
24.
a light meal; snack
25.
a cutting, stinging, or smarting sensation
26.
the depth of cut of a machine tool
27.
the grip or hold applied by a tool or chuck to a workpiece
28. dentistry
the angle or manner of contact between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed naturally
29.
the surface of a file or rasp with cutting teeth
30.
the corrosive action of acid, as on a metal etching plate
31. put the bite on someone
Derived forms
biter (ˈbiter)
noun
Word origin
Old English bītan; related to Latin findere to split, Sanskrit bhedati he splits
bite in American English
(baɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: bit (bɪt), ˈbitten (ˈbɪtən) or bit, ˈbiting
1.
to seize, pierce, or cut with the teeth or with parts like jaws
2.
to cut into, as with a sharp weapon
3.
to sting, as an insect
4.
to hurt in a sharp, stinging way
5.
to eat into; corrode
6.
to infect or possess
used esp. in the passive
bitten by a lust for power
7.
to cheat or trick
used esp. in the passive
verb intransitive
8.
a.
to press or snap the teeth (into, at, etc.)
b.
to have a tendency to do this
9.
to cause a biting sensation or have a biting effect
10.
to get or keep a tight hold; grip
the car wheels bit into the snow
11.
to seize a bait
12.
to be caught, as by a trick
13. Slang
suck (sense 13)
noun
14.
the act of biting
15.
biting quality; sting
a bite to his words
16.
a wound, bruise, or sting from biting
17.
a.
amount of food bitten off; mouthful or morsel
b.
food
c.
a meal, esp. a light meal or snack
18.
a tight hold or grip
19.
an edge or surface that grips
20. US, Informal
an amount cut off or sum deducted
the tax takes quite a bite from my paycheck
21. US, Slang
money or price asked; cost; expense
with the: usually used in the phrase put the bite on, to press for a loan, gift, or bribe of money
22. Dentistry
the way the upper and lower teeth meet
23. Etching
the corrosion of the metal plate by the acid
Idioms:
bite off more than one can chew
bite the bullet
bite the hand that feeds one
Word origin
ME biten < OE bītan < IE base *bheid-, to split, crack > beetle1, bitter, L findere, to split (see fission)
More idioms containing
bite
bite someone's head off
bite the hand that feeds you
bite the dust
bite the bullet
take a bite out of something
a second bite at the cherry
bite off more than you can chew
someone's bark is worse than their bite
bite your tongue
Examples of 'bite' in a sentence
bite
The force of each bite was like a sledgehammer with teeth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The feral animals have begun venturing into towns in the hunt for food as winter bites.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But they lacked bite as the visitors made it four wins in six league games.
The Sun (2016)
She bit him four times as they struggled on their bed.
The Sun (2016)
Treat your skin to a richer day cream when the air is biting cold.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We could have a bite to eat together.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The wind bites as it sweeps down the hillside.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Don't take a second bite at the cherry.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If you prefer a bit more bite to your apple, leave out this cooking step.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Test the rice is cooked (it should still have a little bite to it) and set to one side.
The Sun (2017)
Their logo is a silhouette of an apple with a bite taken out of it.
The Sun (2006)
Or perhaps while waiting for the real fish to bite.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They were also a team who often lacked attacking bite.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The improbable comedy horror returns for another bite.
The Sun (2015)
There seems to be no escape from the biting cold.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They should still have a little bite.
The Sun (2015)
The construction sector is facing another painful year as government spending cuts bite.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You can also give one bite to your loved one.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Welfare cuts are also beginning to bite.
The Sun (2010)
It takes only one bite to become infected.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They also have the strongest bite of any animal on the planet.
The Sun (2009)
Their soft flesh should be bitten into at weekends or days free of worry.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The pair had a bite to eat and a gamble.
The Sun (2009)
The entry points looked like little insect bites but disappeared in six weeks.
The Sun (2011)
Very few dogs bite to cause damage.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
You generally have to take small bites at different aspects of change.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Tear the chicken in bite size pieces.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The wind can be biting but wrap up and you are in for a treat.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She finds an apple and bites into it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She will now struggle to bite her food until her adult teeth come through from around six onwards.
The Sun (2015)
Try wholegrain mustard instead of Dijon for extra bite.
The Sun (2015)
The row adds extra bite to next week's return.
The Sun (2015)
Lunchtime is the busiest with Temple barristers and solicitors grabbing a quick bite and drink before a dash back to the courts.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Blunt, but at the same time it's impossible to take his new album seriously because it is so completely lacking in depth and bite.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
bite
British English: bite /baɪt/ NOUN
A bite of something, especially food, is the action of biting it.
He took another bite of apple.
American English: bite
Arabic: عَضَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: mordida
Chinese: 一口
Croatian: griz
Czech: kousnutí
Danish: bid
Dutch: hapje
European Spanish: mordisco
Finnish: puraisu
French: morsure
German: Biss
Greek: δάγκωμα
Italian: morso
Japanese: かむこと 歯
Korean: 한 입 베어 물기
Norwegian: bitt
Polish: ukąszenie
European Portuguese: dentada
Romanian: mușcătură
Russian: укус
Latin American Spanish: mordisco
Swedish: bett insekt
Thai: รอยกัด
Turkish: ısırma
Ukrainian: укус
Vietnamese: miếng cắn
British English: bite /baɪt/ VERB
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.
Both sisters bit their nails as children.
He bit into his sandwich.
American English: bite
Arabic: يَعَضُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: morder
Chinese: 咬
Croatian: gristi
Czech: kousnout
Danish: bide
Dutch: bijten
European Spanish: morder
Finnish: purra
French: mordre
German: kauen
Greek: δαγκώνω
Italian: mordere
Japanese: かむ 歯
Korean: 물다
Norwegian: bite
Polish: pogryźć
European Portuguese: morder
Romanian: a mușca
Russian: кусать
Latin American Spanish: morder
Swedish: bita
Thai: กัด
Turkish: ısırmak
Ukrainian: кусати
Vietnamese: cắn
All related terms of 'bite'
bite back
If you bite back a feeling or something that you were going to say , you stop yourself from expressing it.
bite-size
small enough to be eaten as a single mouthful
love bite
A love bite is a mark which someone has on their body as a result of being bitten by their partner when they were kissing or making love.
tax bite
an amount of money deducted from your income in the form of tax
bite-sized
Bite-sized pieces of food are small enough to fit easily in your mouth .
insect bite
a sting or bite given to a human by an arthropod of the class Insecta or by a similar invertebrate
sound bite
a short pithy sentence or phrase extracted from a longer speech for use on radio or television
mosquito bite
a bite inflicted by a mosquito
bite one's lip
If you bite your lip or your tongue , you stop yourself from saying something that you want to say , because it would be the wrong thing to say in the circumstances.
bite the dust
to fail or to stop existing
bite your lip
If you bite your lip , you try very hard not to show the anger or distress that you are feeling .
bite one's nails
to chew off the ends of one's fingernails
bite the bullet
to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation
bite your tongue
to not say a particular thing, even though you want to, because it would be the wrong thing to say at the time, or because you are waiting for a better time to speak
to bite the dust
If you say that something has bitten the dust , you are emphasizing that it no longer exists or that it has failed .
snakebite
A snakebite is the bite of a snake, especially a poisonous one.
soundbite
A soundbite is a short sentence or phrase, usually from a politician's speech, which is broadcast during a news programme.
to bite the bullet
If someone bites the bullet , they accept that they have to do something unpleasant but necessary .
take a bite out of
If something takes a bite out of a sum of money, part of the money is spent or taken away in order to pay for it.
bite someone's head off
If someone speaks or replies to you angrily, and you think they are being unfair or reacting too strongly, you can say that they bite your head off .
put the bite on someone
to ask someone for money
to bite your lip to bite your tongue
If you bite your lip or your tongue , you stop yourself from saying something that you want to say , because it would be the wrong thing to say in the circumstances.
a second bite at the cherry
a second chance to do something, especially something that you failed at the first time
bite the hand that feeds one
to repay kindness with injury or ingratitude
bite the hand that feeds you
to be ungrateful and behave badly towards the person who has helped or supported you
bite your nails to the quick
If someone bites their nails to the quick , they bite off all the white part at the end of each nail.
take a bite out of something
to take away a part of a sum of money or other quantity
bite off more than one can chew
to attempt a task beyond one's capability
bite off more than you can chew
to try to do too much
to bite the hand that feeds you
If someone bites the hand that feeds them, they behave badly or in an ungrateful way towards someone who they depend on.
someone's bark is worse than their bite
If you say that someone's bark is worse than their bite , you mean that they seem much more unpleasant or hostile than they really are.
to bite off more than one can chew
If you say that someone has bitten off more than they can chew , you mean that they are trying to do something which is too difficult for them.
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
his or her bark is worse than his or her bite
he or she is bad-tempered but harmless
Chinese translation of 'bite'
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 'bite'
bit
of bite
to bite one's nails
咬指甲 yǎo zhǐjia
to have a bite to eat
( inf ) 吃点(點)东(東)西 chī diǎn dōngxi
to bite one's lip or tongue
( inf ) 保持沉默 bǎochí chénmò
to bite or snap sb's head off
对(對)某人大发(發)脾气(氣) duì mǒurén dà fā píqì
1 (verb)
Definition
(of animals or insects) to injure by puncturing (the skin) with the teeth or fangs
Llamas won't bite or kick.
Synonyms
nip
She was patting the dog when it nipped her finger.
cut
tear
wound
The driver of the bus was wounded by shrapnel.
grip
snap
The poodle yapped and snapped at our legs.
crush
rend (literary)
pain that rends the heart
pierce
Her words pierced Lydia's heart like an arrow.
champ
pinch
She pinched his arm as hard as she could.
chew
Be careful to eat slowly and chew your food well.
crunch
She sucked an ice cube and crunched it loudly.
clamp
nibble
He started to nibble his biscuit.
gnaw
Woodlice attack living plants and gnaw at the stems.
masticate
Her mouth was working, as if she was masticating some tasty titbit.
2 (verb)
Definition
to smart or cause to smart
We were all badly bitten by mosquitoes.
Synonyms
sting
The nettles stung their legs.
wound
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.
prick
He could feel tears pricking his eyes.
3 (verb)
Definition
to take firm hold of or act effectively upon
As the sanctions begin to bite there will be more difficulties.
Synonyms
take effect
The ban takes effect from July.
work
Most of these diets don't work.
be effective
take hold
come into force
produce results
have the desired effect
become operative
4 (verb)
Definition
(of corrosive material) to eat away or into
nylon biting into the flesh
Synonyms
eat
burn
smoke that burns and stings your eyes
smart
My eyes smarted from the smoke.
sting
His cheeks were stinging from the icy wind.
erode
Once exposed, soil is quickly eroded by wind and rain.
tingle
The backs of his hands tingled.
eat away
corrode
Engineers found that the structure had been corroded by moisture.
wear away
5 (verb)
Definition
(of a fish) to take the bait or lure
The fish stopped biting.
Synonyms
take the bait
be lured
be enticed
rise to the bait
1 (noun)
Definition
a thing or amount bitten off
He took another bite of the apple.
Synonyms
nibble
We each took a nibble of cheese.
taste
peck
munch
gnaw
2 (noun)
Definition
a snack
a bite to eat
Synonyms
snack
Lunch was a snack in the fields.
food
Enjoy your food!
piece
a piece of wood
Another piece of cake?
taste
He took another small taste.
refreshment
mouthful
Could I try a mouthful of that?
morsel
a delicious little morsel of meat
titbit
She offered him titbits; a chicken drumstick, some cheese.
light meal
3 (noun)
Definition
a wound or sting inflicted by biting
The boy had suffered a snake bite but he made a quick recovery.
Synonyms
wound
sting
Remove the bee sting with tweezers.
pinch
She gave him a little pinch.
nip
prick
a tiny hole no bigger than a pin prick
4 (noun)
Definition
a stinging or smarting sensation
There was a bite in the air, a smell perhaps of snow.
Synonyms
chill
September is here, bringing with it a chill in the mornings.
nip
sharpness
coolness
He felt the coolness of the tiled floor.
coldness
rawness
crispness
5 (noun)
The novel seems to lack bite and tension.
Synonyms
edge
Featuring new bands gives the show an edge.
interest
force
He changed our world through the force of his ideas.
punch (informal)
The film lacks punch and pace.
sting
The sting of those words had festered in Roderick's mind.
zest
He has a zest for life and a quick intellect.
sharpness
keenness
pungency
incisiveness
acuteness
Everything he writes demonstrates the acuteness of his intelligence.
6 (noun)
I'd have preferred a bit more bite and not so much sugar.
Synonyms
kick (informal)
The coffee had more of a kick than it seemed on first tasting.
edge
punch (informal)
spice
The spice of danger will add to the lure.
relish
zest
Lemon oil adds zest to your cuppa.
tang
Some liked its strong, fruity tang.
sharpness
piquancy
a little mustard to add piquancy
pungency
spiciness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acuteness
Everything he writes demonstrates the acuteness of his intelligence.
Synonyms
perceptiveness,
discrimination,
perception,
insight,
wit,
sensitivity,
intuition,
subtlety,
ingenuity,
sharpness,
cleverness,
keenness,
acuity,
discernment,
perspicacity (formal),
smartness,
astuteness,
canniness,
intuitiveness,
subtleness
in the sense of burn
Definition
to smart or cause to smart
smoke that burns and stings your eyes
Synonyms
sting,
hurt,
smart,
tingle,
bite,
pain
in the sense of chew
Definition
to work the jaws and teeth in order to grind (food)