Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - bite

 I. verb  (bit; bitten; also bit; biting)  Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bitan; akin to Old High German bizan to ~, Latin findere to split  Date: before 12th century  transitive verb  1.  a. to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound  b. to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis  2. to cut or pierce with or as if with an edged weapon  3. to cause sharp pain or stinging discomfort to  4. to take hold of  5. archaic to take in ; cheat  intransitive verb  1. to ~ or have the habit of biting something  2. of a weapon or tool to cut, pierce, or take hold  3. to cause irritation or smarting  4. corrode  5.  a. of fish to take a bait  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 ~  6. to take or maintain a firm hold  7. to produce a negative effect the recession began to ~  8. slang to be objectionable or extremely bad in quality ; stink, suck  • ~r noun  II. noun  Date: 15th century  1.  a. the act of biting  b. the manner of biting; especially occlusion 1b  2. food: as  a. the amount of food taken at a ~ ; morsel  b. a small amount of food ; snack have a ~ to eat  3. archaic  a. cheat, trick  b. sharper  4. a wound made by biting  5. the hold or grip by which friction is created or purchase 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  b. a sharp penetrating effect  8. a single exposure of an etcher's plate to the corrosive action of acid  9. an amount taken usually in one operation for one purpose ; share  10. sound ~