ˈbɪtə adj. & n. --adj. 1 having a
sharp pungent taste;
not sweet. 2 a caused by or
showing mental pain or
resentment (bitter memories; bitter rejoinder). b
painful or
difficult to
accept (bitter disappointment). 3 a
harsh;
virulent (bitter animosity). b piercingly
cold. --n. 1
Brit.
beer strongly flavoured
with hops
and having a bitter taste. 2 (in pl.)
liquor with a bitter
flavour (esp. of wormwood) used as an
additive in cocktails. øbitter-apple =
COLOCYNTH. bitter
orange = SEVILLE ORANGE. bitter
pill something unpleasant that has to be accepted. bitter-sweet adj. 1 sweet with a bitter after-taste. 2 arousing
pleasure tinged with pain or
sorrow. --n. 1 a
sweetness with a bitter after-taste. b pleasure tinged with pain or sorrow. 2 =
woody nightshade (see NIGHTSHADE). to
the bitter
end to the
very end in
spite of difficulties. øøbitterly adv. bitterness n. [OE biter prob. f. Gmc: to the bitter end
may be assoc. with a Naut.
word bitter = 'last
part of a cable': see BITTS]
