Bit

/ˈbɪt/ · noun

Meaning

A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and connected to the reins to direct the animal..

Definitions by Sense

1. A piece of metal placed in a horse's mouth and connected to the reins to direct the animal.
2. A rotary cutting tool, fitted to a drill, brace, or router, used to bore or drill holes or to remove material from the profile of the workpiece.
3. Applied to a various small units of currency and coins.
4. A small amount of something.
5. (informal) Specifically, a small amount of time.
6. (informal) A small fraction above a whole number.
7. (in the plural, informal, sports) Fractions of a second.
8. A portion of something.

Example Sentences

A horse hates having a bit put in its mouth.

router bit

chamfering bit

There were bits of paper all over the floor.

Does your leg still hurt? —Just a bit now.

I've done my bit; I expect you to do yours.

‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’

"I suppose my first objective was to try and help a department, which was very much civil servants who are rotating around on a regular basis, to try and understand public transport a wee bit better and try and understand what was required to run a bus and rail network," muses Conway.

Synonyms for bit

Antonyms for bit

Related Words

Word Forms

• bits
• bitting
• bitted

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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