bit

n.

1. A small quantity

   piece, fragment, crumb, dot, particle, jot, trifle, mite, grain, iota, whit, tittle, scintilla, splinter, parcel, portion, drop, droplet, trickle, driblet, sprinkling, modicum, morsel, dollop, dab, dash, pinch, snippet, snip, shred, atom, speck, molecule, mote, shard, chip, fraction, sliver, segment, section, lump, slice, shaving, moiety, sample, specimen, scale, flake, collop, excerpt, scrap, part, division, share, trace, hint, touch, tad, item, chunk, paring, taste, lick, mouthful, bite, dose, dram, stub, butt, stump, snatch, a drop in the bucket*, peanuts*, chicken feed*, smithereen*, smidgen*, flyspeck*, spot*; see also division 2, part 1, piece 1.

   Antonyms quantity*, lot*, excess. *

2. A brief time

   second, instant, minute, jiffy; see moment 1.

3. A small degree

   little, jot, minimum, inch, tittle, modicum, hairbreadth, trifle, touch, tad, iota, mite, fraction, tolerance, margin, whisker*, wink*, hair*, skin of one's teeth*, skin of one's nose*, eyelash*. *

   Antonyms infinitude, maximum, great deal.

4. The mouthpiece of a bridle

   curb, curb bit, snaffle, gag; see halter 1.

5. A boring or gouging implement

   rock drill, drift, auger; see drill 2.

   Varieties of bits include: carpenter's, blacksmith's, drilling-machine, spiral, expanding, brace, expanding-center, German, half-round, plug-center, twisted, coal-boring, countersink.

do one's bit

every bit