Bit
/bɪt/
nounBeginnerVery CommonGeneral
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
3 meanings1
A small piece, fragment, or part.
/bɪt/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A small piece or amount.
I only had a bit of cake.
💡 Simply: A little piece.
More Examples
2
The dog took a bit out of the toy.
How It's Used
Computing
"A single bit of data can represent 0 or 1."
Everyday Language
"He only ate a bit of his dinner."
2
A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth to control it.
/bɪt/
nounneutralIntermediate
General
A tool for restraining a horse's mouth.
The rider adjusted the bit.
💡 Simply: A metal part in a horse's bridle.
How It's Used
Equestrian
"The horse's bit was made of steel."
Tip:Think of a metal piece that 'bites' the horse's mouth.
3
To put a bit in a horse's mouth.
/bɪt/
verbneutralIntermediate
General
To attach a bit to (a horse's bridle).
The groom bitted the horse.
💡 Simply: To put the metal bit into a horse's mouth.
How It's Used
Equestrian
"He carefully bitted the horse before the race."
Tip:To 'attach' a bit.
Antonyms
Old English *bītan, meaning "to bite." It evolved to refer to a small piece or part.
The word 'bit' has been used to describe a small piece or amount since Old English.
Memory tip
Think of a tiny 'bite' of something.
Practice
bittbite
Usage
80%Spoken
70%Written