- bit
- I UK [bɪt] / US
noun
Word forms "bit":
singular bit plural bits
**
1) a piece or part of somethinga) [countable] a small piece of somethingbit of:I'm having some cake. Do you want a bit?
bits and pieces:He had bits of food stuck in between his teeth.
The wreckage was spread over a wide area in tiny bits and pieces.
b) British informal a part of somethingbit of:The best bit in the film is the scene in the restaurant.
Some bits of the jigsaw are missing.
c) a particular aspect of somethingIn general, I like my job, but I don't enjoy the management bit.
2) [countable] computing the most basic unit of information that can be stored in a computerSee:3) [countable] a piece of metal put in a horse's mouth so that a rider can control it4) [countable] a tool or part of a tool used for cutting or making holes in things5) bits[plural] British humorous a man's sex organs6) [countable, usually plural] American old-fashioned an amount of money an amount of money worth 12½ centstwo bits
•bits and pieces/bobs
— informal someone's possessions or furniture; informal small individual thingsWe have a few bits and pieces of furniture, but that's all.
Then there are all the other bits and pieces involved in a wedding: invitations, photos, and car hire.
get/take the bit between your teeth
— British to start doing something with a determined attitude and a lot of energyOnce he's got the bit between his teeth, there's no stopping him.
- to bitsSee:
II UK [bɪt] / US adverb, pronoun ***
Summary:
A bit can be used in the following ways: - as an adverb: We waited a bit, and then decided to go. (before an adjective or adverb): It's a bit cold in here, isn't it? - as a pronoun: She'd only eaten a bit before she started choking. (followed by "of"): I could use a bit of help.
Bit can also be used in many expressions referring to amounts or degrees, especially small ones.
Get it right: bit:
The expressions a bit and a little bit, when used before an adjective or adverb, are used mainly in informal English. To express the same meaning in written text, you can use any of the following: ▪ a little ▪ slightly ▪ rather ▪ somewhat
Wrong: Public service television seems to be a bit more serious, more based on facts.
Right: Public service television seems to be a little more serious, more based on facts.
Right: Public service television seems to be slightly/rather/somewhat more serious, more based on facts.
Wrong: That would improve the situation a little bit.
Right: That would improve the situation somewhat/a little.
Wrong: Words can diverge a bit from their literary meaning according to the context.
Right: Words can diverge somewhat/slightly from their literary meaning according to the context.offensive an insulting word for a sexually attractive womana bit of skirt/fluff
— British
every bit as...
— just asThe newly developed medication is every bit as effective as the old one.
a good/fair bit
— a fairly large amount of somethinga good/fair bit of:We've still got a fair bit to do.
He's lost a good bit of weight, hasn't he?
not one (little) bit
— not at allI don't like what you're doing one little bit.
- a bitSee:quite
III UK [bɪt] / USthe past tense of bite I
English dictionary. 2014.