bit by bit

bit¹ (b

1. A small portion, degree, or amount: a bit of lint; a bit of luck.

2. A brief amount of time; a moment: Wait a bit.

a. A short scene or episode in a theatrical performance.

b. A bit part.

4. An entertainment routine given regularly by a performer; an act.

5. Informal

a. A particular kind of action, situation, or behavior: got tired of the macho bit.

b. A matter being considered: What's this bit about inflation?

6. Informal An amount equal to one eighth of a dollar: two bits.

7. Chiefly British A small coin: a threepenny bit.

Idioms:

a bit

To a small degree; somewhat: a bit warm.

bit by bit

Little by little; gradually.

do (one's) bit

To do one's part or contribute one's share.

[Middle English bite, morsel, from Old English bita; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.]

bit² (b

1. The sharp part of a tool, such as the cutting edge of a knife or ax.

2. A pointed and threaded tool for drilling and boring that is secured in a brace, bitstock, or drill press.

3. The part of a key that enters the lock and engages the bolt and tumblers.

4. The tip of the mouthpiece on a pipe or a cigarette or cigar holder.

5. The metal mouthpiece of a bridle, serving to control, curb, and direct an animal.

6. Something that controls, guides, or curbs.

tr.v. bit·ted, bit·ting, bits

1. To place a bit in the mouth of (a horse, for example).

2. To check or control with or as if with a bit.

3. To make or grind a bit on (a key).

Idiom:

have/take the bit in one's teeth

To be uncontrollable; cast off restraint.

[Middle English bite, from Old English, act of biting; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.]

bit³ (b

n. Computer Science

A fundamental unit of information having just two possible values, as either of the binary digits 0 or 1.

[Blend of b(inary) and (dig)it.]

bit⁴ (b

Past tense and a past participle of bite.

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Adv.	1.	bit by bit - a little bit at a time; "the research structure has developed piecemeal" in stages, little by little, piecemeal
	2.	bit by bit - in a gradual manner; "the snake moved gradually toward its victim" gradually, step by step

Mentioned in	?		References in classic literature	?		Dictionary browser	?		Full browser	?
bird louse bit bite biting louse blade bit borer core bit countersink bit dog bite drill bit drilling bit fishtail bit gradually in small stages in stages insect bite piecemeal rock bit rock drill	So it would seem; and the curse of it is that I must lie here, conscious, mentally unimpaired, knowing that the lines are going down, breaking bit by bit communication with the world. The Sea Wolf by London, Jack View in context It was very fetching to make the girl propose in the course of being reunited, and Martin discovered, bit by bit, other decidedly piquant and fetching ruses. Martin Eden by London, Jack View in context Bit by bit he was obliged to sell his own and his wife's property. English Literature For Boys And Girls by Marshall, H.E. View in context	bistable bistate bister bistered Bistipuled Bisto bistort bistoury bistre bistred bistro bistroic bisulcate Bisulcous bisulfate bisulfide bisulfite bisulphate bisulphide bisulphite Bisulphuret Bisutun bisymmetric bisymmetry bit bit by bit bit field bit map Bit my bit bit part bit rate bit slice Bit stock bit stream bit-by-bit bit-mapped bit-mapped font bit-mapped image bit-player Bitake Bitangent bitartrate bitch bitch up bitch-slap bitchen bitchery bitchfest bitchin' bitchiness bitching	Bisync Bisynchronous Bisynchronous Communication Bisynchronous Packet Assembler/Disassembler bisynchronous transmission BISYON bit bit bit bit bit bit bit Bit Accurate Model Bit Alley Bit Allocation Signal Bit array Bit Aspect Ratio bit back bit back bit back bit bang Bit bashing bit blank Bit blit Bit block transfer Bit block transfer bit breaker Bit bucket bit buffer unit bit by bit Bit cell Bit Clock Model Bit Combination Transformation Format Bit Compression Multiplexor bit cone Bit Contiguous bit count appendage Bit Count Integrity Bit decay Bit density Bit depth Bit depth Bit Depth Increased Technology Bit diddling bit drag Bit Eighth Zero Suppression Bit error Bit Error Detector Bit Error Monitor Bit Error Outage Bit error probability Bit error rate Bit error rate Bit Error Rate - High Bit Error Rate - Low Bit Error Rate Detector

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bird louse
bit
bite
biting louse
blade bit
borer
core bit
countersink bit
dog bite
drill bit
drilling bit
fishtail bit
gradually
in small stages
in stages
insect bite
piecemeal
rock bit
rock drill

So it would seem; and the curse of it is that I must lie here, conscious, mentally unimpaired, knowing that the lines are going down, breaking bit by bit communication with the world.

The Sea Wolf by London, Jack View in context

It was very fetching to make the girl propose in the course of being reunited, and Martin discovered, bit by bit, other decidedly piquant and fetching ruses.

Martin Eden by London, Jack View in context

Bit by bit he was obliged to sell his own and his wife's property.

English Literature For Boys And Girls by Marshall, H.E. View in context