bit

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbit 

1

a(1)

: the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool

(2)

: a replaceable part of a compound tool that actually performs the function (such as drilling or boring) for which the whole tool is designed

put a new bit in the drill

used a 1/4 inch bit to make the hole

b

bits plural : the jaws (see jaw entry 1 sense 2a) of tongs or pincers

2

: something bitten or held with the teeth:

a

: the usually steel part of a bridle inserted in the mouth of a horse

b

: the rimmed mouth end on the stem of a pipe or cigar holder

3

: something that curbs or restrains

4

: the part of a key that enters the lock and acts on the bolt and tumblers (see tumbler sense 3a)

Illustration of bit

• 1curb
• 2 snaffle

bit

2 of 4

verb

bitted; bitting

transitive verb

1

a

: to put part of a bridle in the mouth of (a horse) : to put a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 2a) in the mouth of (a horse)

b

: to control as if with a bit

2

: to form a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 4) on (a key)

bit

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural bits

1

: a small quantity of food

especially : a small delicacy

2

a

: a small piece or quantity of some material thing

broken bits of glass

picking bits of lint off her sweater

b(1)

British : a coin of a specified small denomination

a threepenny bit

(2)

: a unit of value equal to ¹/₈ of a U.S. dollar (12 ¹/₂ cents)

—used only of even multiples

four bits

Note: No coin was ever issued in this amount.

see also two bits sense 1

3

: something small or unimportant of its kind: such as

a

: a brief period : while

wait a bit longer

see also a bit, a little bit

b

: an indefinite usually small degree, extent, or amount

a bit of a rascal

every bit as powerful

a bit too sweet

see also a bit, a bit much, a little bit

c theater

(1)

: a small part usually with spoken lines in a theatrical performance

a bit part

bit players

(2)

: a usually short theatrical routine

a corny comedy bit

4

: the aggregate of items, situations, or activities appropriate to a given style, genre, or role

rejected the whole bit about love-marriage-motherhood

—Vance Packard

bit

4 of 4

noun (3)

1

computers : a unit of computer information equivalent to the result of a choice between two alternatives (such as yes or no, on or off)

2

computers : the physical representation of a bit by an electrical pulse, a magnetized spot, or a hole whose presence or absence indicates data

Phrases

bit by bit

: by degrees : little by little

getting better bit by bit

to bits

: totally, thoroughly

thrilled to bits

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• atom
• crumb
• dribble
• fleck
• flyspeck
• grain
• granule
• molecule
• morsel
• mote
• nubbin
• nugget
• particle
• patch
• scrap
• scruple
• snip
• snippet
• speck
• tittle

Examples of bit in a Sentence

Noun (2)

she left only a bit of the broccoli on her plate

bits of cookie scattered on the table

I'll have only a bit of food right now

this will only take a bit

known for a comedic bit in which she portrayed a very nervous student driver

wielding silver trays, the servers offered partygoers a variety of exotic-looking bits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The problem, of course, is that the bit itself is stuck in one gear. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025

With the best brush for curly hair in your arsenal, every part of your routine—from detangling to DIY blowouts—gets a little bit simpler. —Erin Parker, Allure, 25 Jan. 2025

Verb

For the next half-hour, the two adult orcas, by turns, bit the whale and dragged it underwater, attempting to prevent it from surfacing. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 15 Jan. 2025

According to the beloved child star, Pesci, now 81, took things too far and bit his co-star's finger, leaving him with a scar. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bite, bit "bite of an animal, cutting edge, point, mouthpiece of a bridle," going back to Old English bite "bite of an animal, cut from a weapon," going back to Germanic *biti- (whence Old Saxon biti "bite, sting," Old High German biz [gebiz "mouthpiece of a bridle"], Old Norse bit), noun derivative from the base of *bītan- "to bite" — more at bite entry 1

Verb

derivative of bit entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English bite, bit "mouthful of food, morsel," going back to Old English bita, bite, going back to Germanic *bitan- (whence Middle Dutch bete "morsel," Old High German bizzo, Old Norse biti), noun derivative from the base of *bītan- "to bite" — more at bite entry 1

Noun (3)

from binary digit

Note: The term bit was introduced into general circulation by Claude shannon in "A Mathematical Theory of Communication," Bell System Technical Journal, vol. 27, July, 1948, p. 380: "The choice of a logarithmic base corresponds to the choice of a unit for measuring information. If the base 2 is used the resulting units may be called binary digits, or more briefly bits, a word suggested by J.W. Tukey." The American mathematician John W. Tukey (1915-2000) had used the word in a Bell Labs memorandum, "Sequential Conversion of Continuous Data to Digital Data," dated January 9, 1947. Tukey employed bit as a counterpart in a binary system to digit in the decimal system. For details see "The Origin of Bit" in the "Anecdotes" section of Annals of the History of Computing, vol 6, no. 2 (April, 1984), pp. 152-55.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bit

• a bit
• a bit much
• a bit of a/an
• a bit of all right
• a bit of crumpet
• a bit strong
• a wee bit
• bit by bit
• bit player
• bit rate
• bit rot
• bit stream
• champing at the bit
• chomping at the bit
• do one's bit
• every bit
• get/take the bit between one's teeth
• hair of the dog (that bit you)
• not a bit of it
• not a blind bit
• not a/one bit
• not (in) the least/smallest/slightest/tiniest bit
• parity bit
• quite a bit
• sixpenny bit
• the whole bit
• two-bit

Kids Definition

bit

1 of 3 noun

ˈbit 

1

: the usually metal bar attached to a bridle and put in the mouth of a horse

2

: the biting or cutting edge or part of a tool

the drill bit

bit

2 of 3 noun

1

: a small piece or amount

2

: a short time

rest a bit

bit

3 of 3 noun

1

: a unit of computer information that represents the selection of one of two possible choices (as yes or no, on or off)

2

: something (as an electrical pulse, a magnetized spot, or a punched hole) that physically represents a bit

Etymology

Noun

Old English bite "act of biting"

Noun

earlier bit "small piece of food," from Old English bita (same meaning)

Noun

binary digit