baɪt v. & n. --v. (past bit;
past part. bitten) 1 tr.
cut or
puncture using
the teeth. 2 tr. (foll. by
off,
away, etc.)
detach with the teeth. 3 tr. (of an
insect,
snake, etc.) wound with a
sting, fangs, etc. 4 intr. (of a
wheel,
screw, etc.)
grip,
penetrate. 5 intr.
accept bait or an
inducement. 6 intr.
have a (desired)
adverse effect. 7 tr. (in passive) a
take in;
swindle. b (foll. by
by, with, etc.) be infected by (enthusiasm etc.). 8 tr. (as
bitten adj.)
cause a glowing or smarting
pain to (frostbitten). 9 intr. (foll. by at)
snap at. --n. 1 an
act of
biting. 2 a wound or
sore made by biting. 3 a a
mouthful of
food. b a
snack or
light meal. 4 the
taking of bait by a fish. 5 pungency (esp. of flavour). 6 incisiveness, sharpness. 7 =
OCCLUSION 3. øbite
back restrain (one's
speech etc.) by or as if by biting the lips. bite (or bite on) the
bullet sl.
behave bravely or stoically. bite the
dust sl. 1 die. 2
fail; break down. bite the
hand that feeds
one hurt or
offend a
benefactor. bite a person's
head off colloq.
respond fiercely or angrily. bite one's
lip see LIP. bite off
more than one can
chew take on a
commitment one
cannot fulfil.
once bitten
twice shy an
unpleasant experience induces
caution. put the bite on US sl.
borrow or
extort money from. what's biting you? sl.
what is worrying you? øøbiter n. [OE bitan f. Gmc]
