bite
byt
Bite (verb) means to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something. Example: “The puppy loves to bite on old shoes.”
verb
1
To use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something.
"The puppy loves to bite on old shoes."
"She bit into the apple with a satisfying crunch."
"Don't worry, the friendly dog never bites, even when children pull its tail."
2
To have an unpleasant or harmful effect, often after a delay.
"Rising prices will bite soon, so families are saving money now."
"The cold weather really began to bite in January."
"The new tax rules are starting to bite for small businesses."
noun
1
An act of biting, or the mark left by one.
"The mosquito bite left an itchy red welt."
"She took a big bite of her sandwich and chewed happily."
"The doctor checked the bite on his arm to see if it was infected."
How to use bite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo clamp down with the teeth, or (figuratively) for something negative to start taking effect.
Common pairings
bite the bullet
bite off more than you can chew
the cold bites
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- bites
- Past tense
- bit, bitten
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The puppy loves to _____ on old shoes.
Etymology
From Old English bītan, from a very old Germanic root meaning "to split" — the same root that eventually gave us the word "bit".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bite
See all rhymes for bite →Frequently asked questions
What does “bite” mean?
The word “bite” means to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something. In plain terms, to clamp down with the teeth, or (figuratively) for something negative to start taking effect.
How do you pronounce “bite”?
“Bite” is pronounced byt (/baɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bite” in a sentence?
Here is “bite” used in a sentence: “The puppy loves to bite on old shoes.”
What part of speech is “bite”?
Depending on how it is used, “bite” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “bite” come from?
The word “bite” comes from Old English. From Old English bītan, from a very old Germanic root meaning "to split" — the same root that eventually gave us the word "bit".
Is “bite” a common word?
“Bite” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “bite” have?
“Bite” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something.
What is the past tense of bite?
Bite is an irregular verb: the simple past tense is "bit" and the past participle is "bitten." So you would say the dog bit him yesterday, but he has been bitten before.
What is the difference between bite and chew?
Bite means to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or wound something in a single action. Chew means to keep grinding food with the teeth over and over, so you bite off a piece first and then chew it.
When does bite mean to have a harmful effect rather than to use the teeth?
Bite can describe something that has an unpleasant or harmful effect, often after a delay, as in "the tax rises will start to bite next year." This figurative sense keeps the idea of a sharp, painful impact without involving actual teeth.
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