bite

noun

UK /baɪt/

Word Forms

singular	bite
plural	bites

1
countable an act of cutting or breaking something using your teeth in order to eat it
Anthony devoured half his burger in one bite.
Donna paused in mid bite, and looked at him in surprise.
Synonyms and related words
To have or use teeth
bite
bite
bite at
1. 1a
  an amount of food that you bite with your teeth
  Here, have a bite of my sandwich if you’re hungry.
  Synonyms and related words
  Amounts and pieces of food
  a stick of butter/margarine
  batch
  bed
2

a bite
or
a bite to eat
singular a small meal, especially one that you eat in a hurry
Will we have time to grab a bite before the show?
Synonyms and related words
Types of meal
a bite
a square meal
banquet
1. 2a
  a small piece of food prepared so that you can eat it in one bite
  mozzarella bites
  Synonyms and related words
  Amounts and pieces of food
  a stick of butter/margarine
  batch
  bed
3
countable an instance of an animal biting someone
The dog gave him a nasty bite on the leg.
Synonyms and related words
Animal behaviour
beach
bite
bite
1. 3a
  a mark or injury where an animal or insect has bitten you
  I woke up covered in mosquito bites.
  Synonyms and related words
  Injuries and wounds
  injury
  loss
  wound
4
singular a very cold feeling
the bitter bite of the wind
Synonyms and related words
Feeling very cold
chill
coldness
shivery
5
uncountable a pleasant bitter or strong taste
a soup with plenty of bite
a crisp green salad with the added bite of radish
Synonyms and related words
Taste, flavour and consistency
taste
flavour
tang
6
uncountable a powerful, effective, or exciting quality
His novel lacks any real bite.
The fuel-injection system gives extra bite to the 24-valve engine.
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being interesting, exciting or lively
mystery
life
novelty
7
countable a pull at the hook when you are fishing, made by a fish trying to take the bait on the hook
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag

phrases

another bite at the cherry

take a bite out of something

bite

noun

US /baɪt/

Word Forms

singular	bite
plural	bites

1
countable an act of cutting or breaking something using your teeth in order to eat it
Anthony devoured half his burger in one bite.
Donna paused in mid bite, and looked at him in surprise.
Synonyms and related words
To have or use teeth
bite
bite
bite at
1. 1a
  an amount of food that you bite with your teeth
  Here, have a bite of my sandwich if you’re hungry.
  Synonyms and related words
  Amounts and pieces of food
  a stick of butter/margarine
  batch
  bed
2

a bite
or
a bite to eat
singular a small meal, especially one that you eat in a hurry
Will we have time to grab a bite before the show?
Synonyms and related words
Types of meal
a bite
a square meal
banquet
1. 2a
  a small piece of food prepared so that you can eat it in one bite
  mozzarella bites
  Synonyms and related words
  Amounts and pieces of food
  a stick of butter/margarine
  batch
  bed
3
countable an instance of an animal biting someone
The dog gave him a nasty bite on the leg.
Synonyms and related words
Animal behavior
beach
bite
bite
1. 3a
  a mark or injury where an animal or insect has bitten you
  I woke up covered with mosquito bites.
  Synonyms and related words
  Injuries and wounds
  injury
  loss
  wound
4
countable a pull at the hook when you are fishing, made by a fish trying to take the bait on the hook
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
5
singular a very cold feeling
the bitter bite of the wind
Synonyms and related words
Feeling very cold
chill
shivery
freeze
6
uncountable a pleasant bitter or strong taste
a soup with plenty of bite
a crisp green salad with the added bite of radish
Synonyms and related words
Taste, flavor and consistency
taste
flavor
tang
7
uncountable a powerful, effective, or exciting quality
His novel lacks any real bite.
The fuel-injection system gives extra bite to the 24-valve engine.
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being interesting, exciting or lively
mystery
life
novelty

phrases

take a bite out of something

bite

verb

UK /baɪt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	bite
he/she/it	bites
present participle	biting
past tense	bit
past participle	bitten

1
intransitive/transitive to use your teeth to cut or break something, usually in order to eat it
Stop biting your nails.
bite into:
Tom bit into his sandwich.
Synonyms and related words
To eat in a particular way
bite
bolt
bon appétit
Synonyms and related words
To have or use teeth
bite
bite
bite at
2
intransitive/transitive if a snake or insect bites you, it makes a small hole in your skin
I’d been bitten by mosquitoes in the night.
Does your dog bite?
Synonyms and related words
Animal behaviour
beach
bite
bite
3
intransitive if a fish bites, it eats the food that you have put on the hook in order to catch it
The fish don’t seem to be biting today.
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
4
intransitive to have an unpleasant effect
The economic slowdown is beginning to bite.
Synonyms and related words
To have a bad effect, or to reduce a good effect
damage
spoil
harm

phrases

be bitten by the ... bug

bite the bullet

bite the dust

bite the hand that feeds you

bite someone’s head off

bite your tongue/lip

once bitten twice shy

someone won’t bite

phrasal verbs

bite at

bite back

bite into

bite off

bite

verb

US /baɪt/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	bite
he/she/it	bites
present participle	biting
past tense	bit
past participle	bitten

1
intransitive/transitive to use your teeth to cut or break something, usually in order to eat it
Stop biting your nails.
bite into:
Tom bit into his sandwich.
Synonyms and related words
To eat in a particular way
bite
bolt
bon appétit
Synonyms and related words
To have or use teeth
bite
bite
bite at
2
intransitive/transitive if a snake or insect bites you, it makes a small hole in your skin
I was bitten by mosquitoes in the night.
Does your dog bite?
Synonyms and related words
Animal behavior
beach
bite
bite
3
intransitive if a fish bites, it eats the food that you have put on the hook in order to catch it
The fish don’t seem to be biting today.
Synonyms and related words
General words for hunting, shooting and fishing
an easy target
angling
bag
4
intransitive to have an unpleasant effect
The economic slowdown is beginning to bite.
Synonyms and related words
To have a bad effect, or to reduce a good effect
cost
damage
spoil

phrases

be bitten by the ... bug

bite the bullet

bite the dust

bite the hand that feeds you

bite someone’s head off

bite me

bite your tongue/lip

it/that bites (the big one)

once bitten twice shy

someone won’t bite

phrasal verbs

bite at

bite back

bite into

bite off

bite ​‌

a bite

a bite to eat

bite ​‌

a bite

a bite to eat

bite ​‌‌

bite ​‌‌

bite

bite

bite

bite