bit 1 (b t)n.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. 3. 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.] |
bit 2 (b t)n.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.] | bit2 left to right: pilot, twist, and spade bits |
bit 3 (b t)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.] |
bit 1 Noun 1. a small piece, portion, or quantity 2. a short time or distance 3. a bit rather; somewhat: a bit stupid 4. a bit of rather: a bit of a fool 5. bit by bit gradually 6. do one's bit to make one's expected contribution [Old English bite action of biting] bit 2 Noun 1. a metal mouthpiece on a bridle for controlling a horse 2. a cutting or drilling tool, part, or head in a brace, drill, etc. [Old English bita] bit 3 Verb bit 4 Noun Maths, computers 1. a single digit of binary notation, represented either by 0 or by 1 2. the smallest unit of information, indicating the presence or absence of a single feature [b(inary + dig)it]
bit (b t) The smallest unit of computer memory. A bit holds one of two possible values, either of the binary digits 0 or 1. The term comes from the phrase binary digit. See Note at byte. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | bit - a small piece or quantity of something; "a spot of tea"; "a bit of paper"; "a bit of lint"; "I gave him a bit of my mind" | | 2. | bit - a small fragment of something broken off from the whole; "a bit of rock caught him in the eye"fragment - a piece broken off or cut off of something else; "a fragment of rock" matchwood - fragments of wood; "it was smashed into matchwood" scurf - (botany) a covering that resembles scales or bran that covers some plant parts sliver, splinter - a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal; "he got a splinter in his finger"; "it broke into slivers" | | 3. | bit - an indefinitely short time; "wait just a moment"; "in a mo"; "it only takes a minute"; "in just a bit"time - an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities); "he waited a long time"; "the time of year for planting"; "he was a great actor in his time" | | 4. | bit - an instance of some kind; "it was a nice piece of work"; "he had a bit of good luck"case, instance, example - an occurrence of something; "it was a case of bad judgment"; "another instance occurred yesterday"; "but there is always the famous example of the Smiths" | | 5. | bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; "the horse was not accustomed to a bit"bar bit - a bit for horses that is a solid bar of metal bridle - headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control bridoon - a bit resembling a snaffle bit; used with a separate curb curb bit, curb - a horse's bit with an attached chain or strap to check the horse Pelham - a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle | | 6. | bit - a unit of measurement of information (from binary + digit); the amount of information in a system having two equiprobable states; "there are 8 bits in a byte"unit, unit of measurement - any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange; "the dollar is the United States unit of currency"; "a unit of wheat is a bushel"; "change per unit volume" check bit, parity bit, parity - (computer science) a bit that is used in an error detection procedure in which a 0 or 1 is added to each group of bits so that it will have either an odd number of 1's or an even number of 1's; e.g., if the parity is odd then any group of bits that arrives with an even number of 1's must contain an error byte - a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information | | 7. | bit - a small amount of solid food; a mouthful; "all they had left was a bit of bread"mouthful, taste - a small amount eaten or drunk; "take a taste--you'll like it" crumb - small piece of e.g. bread or cake sop, sops - piece of solid food for dipping in a liquid | | 8. | bit - a small fragment; "overheard snatches of their conversation"fragment - an incomplete piece; "fragments of a play" | | 9. | bit - a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; "he did his act three times every evening"; "she had a catchy little routine"; "it was one of the best numbers he ever did"performance, public presentation - a dramatic or musical entertainment; "they listened to ten different performances"; "the play ran for 100 performances"; "the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity" | | 10. | bit - the part of a key that enters a lock and lifts the tumblerskey - metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated part, portion - something less than the whole of a human artifact; "the rear part of the house"; "glue the two parts together" | | 11. | bit - the cutting part of a drill; usually pointed and threaded and is replaceable in a brace or bitstock or drill press; "he looked around for the right size bit"bur, burr - small bit used in dentistry or surgery drill - a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows) pilot bit - a small bit that drills a first hole to guide a larger drill shank - cylinder forming the part of a bit by which it is held in the drill spade bit - a thin bit with a center point and cutting edges on either side |
bit 1 bit 2
Translations bit [bɪt] pt of biteto come to bits (= break) → hacerse pedazos; bring all your bits and pieces → trae todas tus cosas
bit [bɪt] pt of bitebring all your bits and pieces → apporte toutes tes affaires;
bit [bɪt] pt of bite ( of plane) → (Hobel)messer nt; (US); two/four/six bits → 25/50/75 Cent(s);
bit [bɪt] pt of bite (COMPUT) → bit m inv; a bit of → un po' di; to come to bits (= break) → andare a pezzi; bring all your bits and pieces → porta tutte le tue cose
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