bit

bit¹

noun

1》 a small piece, quantity, or extent of something.

2》 informal a set of actions or ideas associated with a specific activity: she did her theatrical bit.

3》 informal a girl or young woman.

4》 N. Amer. informal a unit of 12 1/2 cents (used only in even multiples).

Phrases

a bit somewhat.

bit by bit gradually.

a bit of a ——

1》 used to suggest that something is not severe or extreme: a bit of an accident.

2》 denoting a young person or one of slight build: a bit of a girl.

a bit of all right Brit. informal an attractive or pleasing person or thing.

bit of fluff (or skirt or stuff) Brit. informal a woman regarded in sexual terms.

bit on the side Brit. informal

1》 a person with whom one is unfaithful to one's partner.

2》 money earned outside one's normal job.

do one's bit informal make a useful contribution.

in bits Brit. informal very upset or emotionally affected.

to bits

1》 into pieces.

2》 informal very much.

Origin

OE bita 'bite, mouthful', of Gmc origin.

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bit²

past of bite.

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bit³

noun

1》 a metal mouthpiece attached to a bridle, used to control a horse.

2》 a tool or piece for boring or drilling.

    ↘the cutting or gripping part of a plane, pincers, or other tool.

3》 the part of a key that engages with the lock lever.

4》 the copper head of a soldering iron.

verb put a bit into the mouth of (a horse).

Phrases

get (or take or have) the bit between (or N. Amer. in) one's teeth begin to tackle a task in a determined way.

Derivatives

-bitted adjective

Origin

OE bite 'biting, a bite', of Gmc origin.

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bit⁴

noun Computing a unit of information expressed as either a 0 or 1 in binary notation.

Origin

1940s: blend of binary and digit.