bite

1 of 2

verb

ˈbīt 

bit ˈbit  ; bitten ˈbi-tᵊn  also bit; biting ˈbī-tiŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound

was bitten by a dog

b

: to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis

getting bitten by mosquitoes

a snake bit his leg

2

: to cut or pierce with or as if with an edged weapon

bit by his sword

3

: to cause sharp pain or stinging discomfort to

the sleet biting our faces

4

: to take hold of

help the pliers bite the part

5

archaic : to take in : cheat

intransitive verb

1

: to bite or have the habit of biting something

This cat bites.

2

of a weapon or tool : to cut, pierce, or take hold

bites down on the part

The anchor bites into the ocean floor.

3

: to cause irritation or smarting

Her criticisms really bite.

4

: corrode

5

a

of fish : to take a bait

The fish aren't biting today.

b

: to respond so as to be caught (as by a trick)

c

: to accept a suggestion or an offer

offered them a deal but they wouldn't bite

6

: to take or maintain a firm hold

The anchor didn't bite well.

7

: to produce a negative effect

the recession began to bite

8

chiefly US slang, sometimes vulgar : to be objectionable or extremely bad in quality : stink, suck

This song bites.

9

US slang : to imitate or copy (someone or something) especially without permission

There are lots of rappers biting his style—but there's only one James Brown!

—Spin

biter

ˈbī-tər 

noun

bite

2 of 2

noun

plural bites

1

a

: the act of biting

took a bite of the sandwich

felt a bite at the end of the fishing line

b

: the manner of biting

especially, dentistry : occlusion sense 1b

wore braces to correct her bite

2

: food: such as

a

: the amount of food taken at a bite : morsel

couldn't eat another bite

b

: a small amount of food : snack

have a bite to eat

3

archaic

a

: cheat, trick

b

: sharper

4

: a wound made by biting

The bite became infected.

5

: the hold or grip by which friction (see friction sense 1b) is created or purchase (see purchase entry 2 sense 3a(1)) is obtained

6

: a surface that creates friction or is brought into contact with another for the purpose of obtaining a hold

7

a

: a keen incisive quality

a writing style that lacks bite

a satirical bite

b

: a sharp penetrating effect

The soup has a peppery bite.

the bite of the wind on our cheeks

8

etching : a single exposure of an etcher's plate to the corrosive action of acid

9

: an amount (as of money) taken usually in one operation for one purpose : share

a 15 percent bite for his manager

10

: sound bite

a 10-second news bite

11

: an expression of interest in something being offered

In seven previous days, the seller didn't get a single bite [=no one expressed interest in buying what was offered].

—Jerry Garrett et al.

Phrases

bite off more than one can chew

: to undertake more than one can handle

bite one's tongue

: to hold back (as from a reluctance to offend) a remark one would like to make

bite the bullet

: to enter with resignation upon a difficult or distressing course of action

bite the dust

1

: to fall dead especially in battle

2

a

: to suffer humiliation or defeat

b

: to come to an end

bite the hand that feeds one

: to injure a benefactor maliciously

Synonyms

Verb

• smell
• stink
• suck [informal + sometimes impolite]

Noun

• acerbity
• acidity
• acidness
• acridity
• acridness
• acrimoniousness
• acrimony
• acuteness
• asperity
• bitterness
• edge
• harshness
• keenness
• poignance
• poignancy
• pungency
• roughness
• sharpness
• tartness

Examples of bite in a Sentence

Verb

The hamster bit the child.

She bit the cookie in half.

Some people bite their nails when they feel nervous.

A wild animal may bite if it is frightened.

The patient had been bitten by a poisonous snake.

The mosquitoes are biting tonight.

Are the fish biting today?

Noun

He ate the candy bar in three quick bites.

She gave her lip a gentle bite.

The fisherman felt a bite at the end of his line and reeled in a fish.

My teenage daughter wears a special device at night to correct her bite.

Don't scratch that mosquito bite.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The goal is to achieve a juicy look, characterized by an imprecise and slightly smudged application, reminiscent of the resulting lip tint after taking a bite of fruit. —Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024

Light bites accompany the tasting, enhancing the experience. —Shivani Vora, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Save your paperwork More:Reality bites: Is Generation X in denial about its own impending retirement? —Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 3 Nov. 2024

While rattlesnake bites are venomous and potentially dangerous, fatalities are relatively low, especially when medical attention is received quickly after a bite. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English biten, going back to Old English bītan, going back to Germanic *bītan- (whence Old Saxon bītan "to bite, cut into," Old High German bīzan, Old Norse bíta, Gothic beitan), going back to Indo-European *b^hei̯d- "split," whence also Latin findere "to split, cleave, divide" (from a derivative *b^hi-n-d-), Sanskrit abhet "has split," bhinátti "(s/he) splits" and perhaps Greek pheídomai, pheídesthai "to spare, save, refrain from"

Noun

derivative of bite entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bite

• bite back
• bite plate
• bite-size
• bite-sized
• bite someone's head off
• come back to bite one
• put the bite on
• rat-bite fever
• someone's bark is worse than his/her bite
• sound bite
• won't bite

Kids Definition

bite

1 of 2 verb

ˈbīt 

bit ˈbit  ; bitten ˈbit-ən  ; biting ˈbīt-iŋ 

1

: to seize, grip, or cut into with or as if with teeth

bite an apple

2

: to wound, pierce, or sting

bitten by a snake

a mosquito bit me

3

: to cause to smart : sting

pepper bites the mouth

4

: to eat into

acid biting into metal

5

: to take bait

the fish are biting

6

: to respond to something tempting

bite

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a seizing of something by biting

b

: the grip taken in biting

2

a

: the amount of food taken at a bite

b

: a small amount of food : snack

3

: a wound made by biting

4

: a sharp penetrating quality or effect

the bite of the cold wind on our cheeks

Etymology

Verb

Old English bītan "to bite, grip with the teeth" — related to beetle

Medical Definition

bite

1 of 2 verb

ˈbīt 

bit ˈbit  ; bitten ˈbit-ᵊn  also bit; biting ˈbīt-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound

2

: to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis

intransitive verb

: to bite or have the habit of biting something

bite

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or manner of biting

especially : occlusion sense 2a

2

: a wound made by biting