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bit
(redirected from on the bridle)

   Also found in: Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
bit 1  (bt)
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  (bt)
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.]
click for a larger image
bit2
left to right: pilot, twist, and spade bits

bit 3  (bt)
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
the past tense of bite

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  (bt)
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
Noun1.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"
small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity - an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude
2.bitbit - 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"
exfoliation, scurf, scale - a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin
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.bitbit - 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"
instant, jiffy, New York minute, split second, trice, twinkling, wink, blink of an eye, heartbeat, flash - a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat); "if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash"
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
snaffle, snaffle bit - a simple jointed bit for a horse; without a curb
saddlery, stable gear, tack - gear for a horse
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"
chaw, chew, cud, plug, quid, wad - a wad of something chewable as tobacco
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.bitbit - 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"
show-stopper, showstopper, stopper - an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down
10.bit - the part of a key that enters a lock and lifts the tumblers
key - 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
center bit, centre bit - a bit with a sharp center point for guidance and two side cutters
chamfer bit - a bit that is used for beveling
counterbore, countersink bit, countersink - a bit for enlarging the upper part of a hole
cutting implement - a tool used for cutting or slicing
drill - a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows)
drill bit, drilling bit - a bit used in drilling for oil
expansion bit, expansive bit - a bit with a cutting blade that can be adjusted to different sizes
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
twist bit, twist drill - a bit or drill having deep helical grooves

bit 1
noun 1. slice, segment, fragment, crumb, mouthful, small piece, morsel
noun 2. piece, scrap, small piece
noun 3. jot, whit, tittle, iota
noun 4. part, moment, period
noun 5. little while, time, second, minute, moment, spell, instant, tick Brit. (informal) jiffy (informal)

bit 2
Translations
Spanish bit [bɪt] pt of bite
ntrozo, pedazo, pedacito;
(COMPUT) → bit m;
(for horse) → freno, bocado;
a bit of → un poco de;
a bit mad → algo loco;
bit by bit → poco a poco;
to come to bits (= break) → hacerse pedazos;
to do one's bit → aportar su granito de arena;
bring all your bits and pieces → trae todas tus cosas

French bit [bɪt] pt of bite
nmorceau m;
(Comput) → bit m, élément m binaire [of tool]; mèche f [of horse]; mors m;
a bit of → un peu de;
a bit mad/dangerous → un peu fou/risqué;
bit by bit → petit à petit;
to come to bits (= break) → tomber en morceaux, se déglinguer;
bring all your bits and pieces → apporte toutes tes affaires;
to do one's bit → y mettre du sien

German bit [bɪt] pt of bite
n (piece) → Stück nt;
(of drill) → (Bohr)einsatz m, Bohrer m;
(of plane) → (Hobel)messer nt;
(Comput) → Bit nt;
(of horse) → Gebiss nt;
(US);
two/four/six bits → 25/50/75 Cent(s);
a bit of → ein bisschen;
a bit mad → ein bisschen verrückt;
a bit dangerous → etwas gefährlich;
bit by bit → nach und nach;
to come to bits → kaputtgehen;
bring all your bits and pieces → bringen Sie Ihre (Sieben)sachen mit;
to do one's bit → sein(en) Teil tun or beitragen

Italian bit [bɪt] pt of bite
npezzo; [of tool] → punta; [of horse] → morso;
(COMPUT) → bit m inv;
(US) (coin) → ottavo di dollaro;
a bit of → un po' di;
a bit mad/dangerous → un po' matto/pericoloso;
bit by bit → a poco a poco;
to do one's bit → fare la propria parte;
to come to bits (= break) → andare a pezzi;
bring all your bits and pieces → porta tutte le tue cose

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