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bite Definition

bite (bīt)

transitive verb bitbit, bit′·tenbit′'n or bit, bit′·ing

  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

Etymology: ME biten < OE bītan < IE base *bheid-, to split, crack > beetle, bitter, L findere, to split (see fission)

intransitive verb

    1. to press or snap the teeth (into, at, etc.)
    2. to have a tendency to do this
  2. to cause a biting sensation or have a biting effect
  3. to get or keep a tight hold; grip the car wheels bit into the snow
  4. to seize a bait
  5. to be caught, as by a trick
  6. Slang suck ()

noun

  1. the act of biting
  2. biting quality; sting a bite to his words
  3. a wound, bruise, or sting from biting
    1. amount of food bitten off; mouthful or morsel
    2. food
    3. a meal, esp. a light meal or snack
  5. a tight hold or grip
  6. an edge or surface that grips
  7. ☆ Informal an amount cut off or sum deducted the tax takes quite a bite from my paycheck
  8. ☆ 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
  9. Dentistry the way the upper and lower teeth meet
  10. Etching the corrosion of the metal plate by the acid

bite Idioms

bite off more than one can chew

☆

Informal to attempt more than one is capable of

bite the bullet

Informal

to confront a painful situation with fortitude or stoicism: from an earlier practice of having the patient bite on a bullet during battlefield surgery when no anesthetic was available

bite the hand that feeds one

Informal to insult or harm a benefactor

bite Synonyms

bite

n.

  1. What one takes in the mouth at one time

    mouthful, cud, chew, taste, spoonful, forkful, nip, morsel, nibble, bit, chaw*.

  2. The result of being bitten

    wound, sting, laceration; see injury 1.

  3. A sharp sensation

    sting, prick, burn; see pain 2.

  4. A quick meal

    snack, nibble, light meal, nosh*; see meal 2.

put the bite on*

pressure, ask for a loan, touch*; see borrow 1.

bite Synonyms

bite

v.

  1. To seize or sever with the teeth

    snap, gnaw, sink one's teeth into, nip, lacerate, pierce, sting, nibble, chew, chew up, mouth, gulp, worry, taste, masticate, clamp, champ, chomp, munch, bite into, crunch, ruminate, mangle, chaw*; see also eat 1, taste 1.

  2. To be given to biting

    snap, be vicious, bare the teeth; see attack 2, hurt 1.

  3. To cut or corrode

    burn, sting, slash, smart, etch, eat away, wear away, sear, rot, rust, oxidize, erode, dissolve, deteriorate, decay, consume, decompose, engrave.

  4. To take bait

    rise to the bait, strike, nibble, get hooked; swallow hook, line, and sinker*.

  5. *To take a chance

    volunteer, risk, be a victim; see chance 2.

bite Usage Examples

Object

  • bullet: Not to worry, bite the bullet, the following day I called the Heritage offices.
  • dust: Another fan poll bites the dust for another year.

Converse of object

  • scissor: The mouth should have black lips with a complete set of teeth with the correct scissor bite.
  • grab: Tara: There are many places where you can grab a quick bite.

Subject

  • adder: She had been bitten by an adder, and they had been obliged to shoot her.
  • mosquito: Getting bitten by mosquitos and drinking infected water is never a good thing for your health.
  • bug: Once you have been bitten by the bug, you will want to get started straight away.
  • snake: A man is bitten by a snake, he drags a boat out into the river to find help.
  • werewolf: What would happen if a chair was bitten by a werewolf?

Noun used with modifier

  • mosquito: The virus is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites.
  • insect: All insect bites can usually be treated with an antiseptic cream.
  • snake: Snakes, which prey on rodents had a field day, their ranks swelled to epidemic proportions and reported snake bites surged.
  • flea: Certain people are more susceptible to flea bites than others.

Preposition: at

  • cherry: The fact that he didn't did not allow him to have a second bite at the cherry.

Preposition: of

  • cherry: The bad weather comes from both north and south so they get 2 bites of the cherry.
  • mosquito: Specific Vaccine Information Yellow Fever This is a serious viral illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Preposition: by

  • adder: She had been bitten by an adder, and they had been obliged to shoot her.
  • mosquito: Getting bitten by mosquitos and drinking infected water is never a good thing for your health.
  • bug: Once you have been bitten by the bug, you will want to get started straight away.
  • snake: A man is bitten by a snake, he drags a boat out into the river to find help.
bite Quotes

  Oh! he is mad is he? Then I hope he will bite some of my other generals.

—George II

And having looked to government for bread, on the very first scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them. To avoid that evil, government will redouble the causes of it; and then it will become inveterate and incurable.

—Burke, Edmund

Color and bite permeate a language designed to rally many men, to destroy some, and to change the minds of others.

—Safire,William

  Need I go on? I hate to bite Hands that led me to the limelight In the Penguin book, I regret The awkwardness. But British, no, the name's not right. Yours truly, Seamus.

—Heaney, SeamusJustin

He felt like a manwho, chasing rainbows, has had one of them suddenly turn and bite him in the leg.

—Plum

   So, naturalists observe, a flea Hath smaller fleas on him prey; And these have smaller fleas to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Thus every poet, in his kind, Is bit by him that comes behind.

—Swift,Jonathan