The meaning of the word bit

Recent Examples on the Web



Compared to a full reveal of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, this teaser is a bit of a snooze.


Greg S. Fink, Car and Driver, 5 Apr. 2023





There was a bit of a double standard to some discussion of Reese, with some commentators criticizing the gesture, even though Clark had done the exact same thing while having a particularly strong game against Louisville previously.


Jacob Linden, Redbook, 5 Apr. 2023





But while the plot remains a mystery, the characters give us a bit more insight on where the film could go.


Erica Gonzales, ELLE, 5 Apr. 2023





The time since has been a bit of a blur.


Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2023





San Antonio’s median home price may be $310,000, but those in the market for something a bit more expensive and expansive have plenty of options in and around the Alamo City.


Timothy Fanning, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Apr. 2023





With a short commute to and from work, Grimes has a bit more time to focus on his country music career.


Samantha Stutsman, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2023





Wrestler of the Year Coleman Nogle, Mount Saint Joseph, senior, 126 pounds To say that Coleman Nogle made the most of his senior year might be a bit of an understatement.


Mike Frainie, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2023





It’s been a bit of an odd offseason for Bill Belichick, who had to walk back an uncharacteristic remark at the annual league meeting to emphasize the team was not resting on its laurels.


Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2023




The Aztecs could and probably should have taken the lead several times, but free throws — that old bugaboo — bit them at the most inopportune time.


Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2023





The octopus fell out of the shell and bit the woman twice on her stomach, according to a Facebook post by New South Wales Ambulance, which responded to an emergency call on March 16.


Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023





That design stores bits in a conducting layer.


IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2023





Of course, viewers already know the true culprit who bit Ni’jah.


Quinci Legardye, Harper’s BAZAAR, 19 Mar. 2023





The ‘who bit Beyonce?’ drama comes back to the spotlight in ‘Swarm’ | Credit: amazon studios; Kevin Mazur/Getty Swarm has a lot of fun with this moment.


Nick Romano, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2023





Deputies in Pickaway County shot and killed a zebra after attacked a man and bit off his arm on Sunday https://t.co/Wg6vYnsLhl #10TV — 10TV (@10TV) March 13, 2023 No other injuries to humans or animals were reported.


CBS News, 14 Mar. 2023





Police wrote in the affidavit that one of the dogs bit someone in December, causing the victim to need several stitches on one of her fingers.


Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2023





The dogs also injured one of the relatives and bit a first responder who tried to pull the animals off the couple, authorities said.


Andy Rose, CNN, 25 Feb. 2023



See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘bit.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

English[edit]

snaffle bit (1)

drill bit (2)

key bit (15)

Pronunciation[edit]

  • enPR: bĭt, IPA(key): /bɪt/
  • Rhymes: -ɪt

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English bitte, bite, from Old English bita (bit; fragment; morsel) and bite (a bite; cut), from Proto-Germanic *bitô and *bitiz; both from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (to split). More at bite.

Noun[edit]

bit (plural bits)

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

    A horse hates having a bit put in its mouth.

  2. A rotary cutting tool fitted to a drill, used to bore holes.
  3. (dated, Britain) A coin of a specified value.

    a threepenny bit

  4. (obsolete, Canada) A ten-cent piece, dime.
    • 1941, Emily Carr, Klee Wyck, Chapter 10, [3]
      The smallest coin we had in Canada in early days was a dime, worth ten cents. The Indians called this coin «a Bit«. Our next coin, double in buying power and in size, was a twenty-five cent piece and this the Indians called «Two Bits».
  5. (now US) A unit of currency or coin in the Americas worth a fraction of a Spanish dollar; now specifically, an eighth of a US dollar.

    A quarter is two bits.

    • 1789, Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative, vol. I, ch. 6:
      I trusted to the Lord to be with me; and at one of our trips to St. Eustatia, a Dutch island, I bought a glass tumbler with my half bit, and when I came to Montserrat I sold it for a bit, or sixpence.
  6. (historical, US) In the southern and southwestern states, a small silver coin (such as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12½ cents; also, the sum of 12½ cents.
  7. A small amount of something.

    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.

  8. (informal) Specifically, a small amount of time.

    I’ll be there in a bit; I need to take care of something first.

    He was here just a bit ago, but it looks like he’s stepped out.

  9. (in the plural, informal, sports) Fractions of a second.

    The 400 metres race was won in 47 seconds and bits.

  10. A portion of something.

    I’d like a big bit of cake, please.

    • 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:

      Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. [] A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale.

  11. Somewhat; something, but not very great; also used like jot and whit to express the smallest degree. See also a bit.

    Am I bored? Not a bit of it!

    • T. Hook
      My young companion was a bit of a poet.
  12. (slang) A prison sentence, especially a short one.
    • 1904, The Anamosa prison press, volume 7, Iowa. Colony of Detention at Anamosa:

      Had it not been for the influence of Mrs. Booth and Hope Hall I should still be grafting or doing a bit in some stir

    • 1916, Thomas Mott Osborne. Warden, Sing Sing Prison, N. Y., “Prison Reform”, in The Journal of sociologic medicine, volume 17, page 407:

      Before doing that I am going to tell you what was the result of my own incarceration, because I presume it may not be a secret to you, that I have done a «bit» myself, not the «bit» which the prosecuting attorney was so anxious to have me do.

    • 1994, Odie Hawkins, Lost Angeles, page 158:

      Chino didn’t make me think of Dachau or that notorious joint in Angola, Louisiana, where a brother who had done a bit there told me how they used to cut the grass on the front lawn with their fingernails.

    • 2001, Andrew H. Vachss, Pain management:

      Not counting the days—that’s okay for a county-time slap, but it’ll make you crazy if you’ve got years to go on a felony bit.

  13. An excerpt of material making up part of a show, comedy routine, etc.

    His bit about video games was not nearly as entertaining as the other segments of his show.

  14. Short for bit part.

    She acted her bit in the opening scene.

  15. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers[1].
  16. The cutting iron of a plane[2].
  17. The bevelled front edge of an axehead along which the cutting edge runs.
  18. (BDSM) A gag of a style similar to a bridle.
  19. (MLE) A gun.
    • 2013 December 23, Stephen Reynolds; Stephen Reynolds, director, Vendetta, spoken by Jimmy Vickers (Danny Dyer), 46:53 from the start:

      JIMMY: I need to get my hands on some bits. If you’re still in the business. RONNIE (played by Nick Nevern): Oi! TROJAN (played by Jean-Paul Van Cauwelaert): Ronnie. {…} TROJAN: Now that is a SIG Sauer P226.

Synonyms[edit]
  • (coin): coin, piece
  • (small piece): morsel (of food), piece, scrap
  • (portion): portion, share, segment
  • (horse equipment): snaffle, pelham, kimberwicke
  • (prison sentence): bid
Derived terms[edit]
  • a bit
  • a fair bit
  • a little bit
  • a little bit of bread and no cheese
  • a lot of bit
  • behind the bit
  • bergy bit
  • bit and bit
  • bit array
  • bit banging
  • bit between one’s teeth
  • bit bucket
  • bit by bit
  • bit crusher
  • bit decay
  • bit depth
  • bit interval
  • bit lifter
  • bit map
  • bit nibbler
  • bit of all right
  • bit of alright
  • bit of crumpet
  • bit of fluff
  • bit of muslin
  • bit of rough
  • bit of skirt
  • bit of stuff
  • bit on the side
  • bit part
  • bit plane
  • bit player
  • bit rate
  • bit role
  • bit rot
  • bit shank
  • bit shift
  • bit slice
  • bit string
  • bit stuffing
  • bit-banger
  • bit-bucket
  • bit-compressed
  • bit-count integrity
  • bit-map
  • bits and bobs
  • bits and pieces
  • bitty
  • blind bit
  • blown to bits
  • brace and bit
  • bucky bit
  • cannon bit
  • canon bit
  • centre-bit
  • chafe at the bit
  • champ at the bit
  • chicken bit
  • chomp at the bit
  • curb bit
  • curb-bit
  • devil’s bit
  • do one’s bit
  • drag bit
  • every bit
  • every little bit helps
  • fall to bits
  • fippenny bit
  • Forstner bit
  • German bit
  • gouge bit
  • hair of the dog that bit one
  • high bit
  • high order bit
  • itty-bitty
  • key bit
  • lip bit
  • long bit
  • modesty bit
  • naughty bit
  • nose bit
  • not a bit of it
  • not a bit, not one bit
  • parity bit
  • pod bit
  • quantum bit
  • quill bit
  • quite a bit
  • rearing bit
  • roller cone bit
  • roller-cone bit
  • rollercone bit
  • rose bit
  • sheep’s-bit
  • short bit
  • sign bit
  • sticky bit
  • the biter bit
  • threepenny bit
  • threepenny-bit
  • tit bit
  • tongue-lolling bit
  • two-bit
  • wait-a-bit
  • weather-bit
[edit]
  • bits (genitals)
Translations[edit]

coin of a specified value see coin

ten-cent piece see dime

coin worth about 12½ cents; sum of 12½ cents

small amount of something See also translations at a little

  • Armenian: կտոր (hy) (ktor)
  • Bulgarian: късче (bg) n (kǎsče), частица (bg) (častica)
  • Burmese: please add this translation if you can
  • Catalan: mica (ca) f, poquet m
  • Chamicuro: naspejka
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: please add this translation if you can
  • Czech: kousek (cs) m, troška f
  • Dutch: beetje (nl), hapje (nl) (of food)
  • Esperanto: peco, iometa
  • Estonian: please add this translation if you can
  • Finnish: pala (fi), palanen (fi); osa (fi), osuus (fi) (small amount of work)
  • French: petit morceau m, peu (fr) m
  • German: Bisschen (de) n, Wenig n, Stück (de) n, Stückchen (de) n, Happen (de) m (of food)
  • Irish: ruainne m
  • Italian: poco (it) m, poca (it) f, pezzetto (it) m, pezzettino m
  • Japanese: ちょっと (ja) (chotto), 少々 (ja) (しょうしょう, shōshō), 少し (ja) (すこし, sukoshi)
  • Khmer: please add this translation if you can
  • Korean: 작은 조각 (jageun jogak), 도막 (ko) (domak)
  • Lao: please add this translation if you can
  • Latin: frustum n, morsum n, pauxillum n, tantillum n
  • Macedonian: парче n (parče), парченце n (parčence), трошка f (troška)
  • Maori: pīhi, maramara
  • Norman: morcé m (Jersey, Guernsey)
  • Norwegian: bit (no) m
  • Plautdietsch: Tips m, Bät n
  • Polish: kawałek (pl) m inan
  • Portuguese: bocado (pt) m, pedaço (pt) m, porção (pt) f, pitada (pt)
  • Romanian: bucată (ro)
  • Russian: кусо́к (ru) m (kusók)
  • Scottish Gaelic: bìdeag f, criomag f, mìr m, car (gd) m
  • Slovak: kúsok, úlomok, časť (sk)
  • Slovene: košček m
  • Swahili: charaza (sw)
  • Swedish: bit (sv) c
  • Telugu: ముక్క (te) (mukka), తుంపు (te) (tumpu), తునక (te) (tunaka)
  • Thai: please add this translation if you can
  • Tibetan: ཅུང་ཙམ (cung tsam), ཅུང་ཟད (cung zad), ཅུང་ཟད་ཙམ (cung zad tsam)
  • Turkish: azıcık (tr), biraz (tr), gıdım (tr), parça (tr), parçacık (tr), zerre (tr)
  • Vietnamese:  (vi)

sports: fraction of a second

  • Finnish: osa (fi)

portion

  • Bulgarian: парче (bg) n (parče)
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: please add this translation if you can
  • Czech: kousek (cs) m, dílek (cs) m
  • Dutch: stuk (nl) n
  • Finnish: pala (fi), palanen (fi); annos (fi)
  • French: part (fr) f
  • Hindi: टुकड़ा m (ṭukṛā)
  • Italian: parte (it) f, porzione (it) f
  • Khmer: please add this translation if you can
  • Korean: 조금 (ko) (jogeum), 약간 (ko) (yakgan)
  • Lao: please add this translation if you can
  • Macedonian: парче n (parče)
  • Maori: inati, pīhi, tiri
  • Norwegian: bit (no) m
  • Polish: kawałek (pl) m inan, porcja (pl) f
  • Portuguese: bocado (pt) m, pedaço (pt) m, porção (pt) f
  • Russian: кусо́к (ru) m (kusók)
  • Scottish Gaelic: bìdeag f, criomag f, mìr m
  • Slovak: kúsok, časť (sk)
  • Spanish: porción (es)
  • Swahili: charaza (sw)
  • Swedish: bit (sv) c, lite (sv)
  • Thai: please add this translation if you can
  • Turkish: parça (tr)
  • Vietnamese: phần (vi)

somewhat; something, but not very great See also translations at a bit

Translations to be checked

  • Breton: (please verify) gweskenn (br) f (1), (please verify) un tammig (4)
  • Indonesian: (please verify) sedikit (id) (4)
  • Interlingua: (please verify) morso (1), (please verify) puncta (2), (please verify) pauco, (please verify) poco, (please verify) morsello (4)

Verb[edit]

bit (third-person singular simple present bits, present participle bitting, simple past and past participle bitted)

  1. (transitive) To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of (a horse).

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1874, Edward H. Knight, American Mechanical Dictionary
  2. ^ 1874, Edward H. Knight, American Mechanical Dictionary

Etymology 2[edit]

See bite

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. simple past tense of bite
    Your dog bit me!
  2. (informal in US, archaic in UK) past participle of bite, bitten
    I have been bit by your dog!

Adjective[edit]

bit (not comparable)

  1. (chiefly in combination) Having been bitten.

    Even though he’s bit, of course the zombies would still chase him.

    • 1984, Field & Stream, volume 89, number July, page 24:

      Fortunately, someone who gets skeeter-bit this much may develop an immunity to the skeeter’s saliva

    • 1992, Robert Lewis Taylor, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters:

      Only the year before, the conjure man had brought in the Jackson County madstone, from way over in Illinois, for a white peddler that had been dog-bit, and the man went ahead and died just the same

    • 1998, Adele Griffin, Rainy Season, page 121:

      He will not — he’ll tell you not to be loco, climbing up trees late at night when you’ll get bug-bit to death plus you can’t see anything

Etymology 3[edit]

Coined by John Tukey in 1946 as an abbreviation of binary digit, probably influenced by connotations of “small portion”.[1][2] First used in print 1948 by Claude Shannon.[3] Compare byte and nybble, with similar food associations.

Noun[edit]

bit (plural bits)

  1. (mathematics, computing) A binary digit, generally represented as a 1 or 0.
  2. (computing) The smallest unit of storage in a digital computer, consisting of a binary digit.
    Synonym: b
  3. (information theory, cryptography) Any datum that may take on one of exactly two values.

    status bits on IRC

    permission bits in a file system

  4. (information theory) A unit of measure for information entropy.
    • 2011 May 17, Lisa Grossman, “Entropy Is Universal Rule of Language”, in Wired Science[4], retrieved 2012-09-26:

      The researchers found that the original texts spanned a variety of entropy values in different languages, reflecting differences in grammar and structure.
      But strangely, the difference in entropy between the original, ordered text and the randomly scrambled text was constant across languages. This difference is a way to measure the amount of information encoded in word order, Montemurro says. The amount of information lost when they scrambled the text was about 3.5 bits per word.
  5. A microbitcoin, or a millionth of a bitcoin (0.000001 BTC).
Hyponyms[edit]
  • hidden bit
  • high-order bit
  • least significant bit
  • most significant bit
  • qubit
Derived terms[edit]
  • 128-bit
  • 16-bit
  • 32-bit
  • 64-bit
  • 7-bit
  • 8-bit
  • bit-depth
  • biter
  • bitstream
  • bitwise
Translations[edit]

math: binary digit

  • Bulgarian: бит (bg) m (bit)
  • Czech: bit (cs) m
  • Dutch: bit (nl) m
  • Esperanto: bito
  • Finnish: bitti (fi)
  • French: bit (fr) m
  • German: Bit (de) n
  • Greek: δυφίο (el) n (dyfío)
  • Gujarati: દ્વયંક (dvayaṅk)
  • Hebrew: ביט (he) m
  • Hindi: द्वयंक (dvayaṅk)
  • Hungarian: bit (hu)
  • Icelandic: biti, tvíundatölustafur
  • Ido: bico (io)
  • Irish: giotán
  • Japanese: ビット (ja) (bitto)
  • Latvian: bits m
  • Lithuanian: bitas (lt) m
  • Macedonian: бит m (bit)
  • Marathi: द्वयंक (dvayaṅka)
  • Nepali: द्वयंक (dvayaṅka)
  • Portuguese: bit (pt) m
  • Russian: бит (ru) m (bit)
  • Slovak: bit m
  • Slovene: bit m
  • Spanish: binio m
  • Swahili: charaza (sw)
  • Swedish: bit (sv) c
  • Turkish: bit (tr)
  • Ukrainian: біт m (bit)

computing: smallest unit of storage

  • Arabic: please add this translation if you can
  • Armenian: բիթ (hy) (bitʿ)
  • Bulgarian: бит (bg) m (bit)
  • Chinese:
    Cantonese: 位元 (wai6 jyun4), 二進制位二进制位 (ji6 zeon3 zai3 wai6-2), 二進制位元二进制位元 (ji6 zeon3 zai3 wai6 jyun4)
    Mandarin:  (zh) (wèi), 比特 (zh) (bǐtè), 位元 (zh) (wèiyuán), 二進位元二进位元 (èrjìn wèiyuán) (Taiwan), 二進制位元二进制位元 (èrjìnzhì wèiyuán) (Taiwan), 二進制數字二进制数字 (èrjìnzhì shùzì), 二進制位二进制位 (èrjìnzhì wèi)
    Min Nan: 位元 (zh-min-nan) (ūi-gôan)
  • Czech: bit (cs) m
  • Dutch: bit (nl) m
  • Esperanto: bito, duumo
  • Estonian: please add this translation if you can
  • Finnish: bitti (fi)
  • Georgian: ბიტი (biṭi)
  • German: Bit (de) n
  • Greek: μπιτ (el) n (bit), δυφίο (el) n (dyfío), δυαδικό ψηφίο (el) n (dyadikó psifío)
  • Hebrew: ביט (he) m (bit)
  • Hungarian: bit (hu)
  • Icelandic: biti, tvíundatölustafur
  • Japanese: ビット (ja) (bitto)
  • Korean: 비트 (biteu)
  • Latvian: bits m
  • Lithuanian: bitas (lt) m
  • Macedonian: бит m (bit)
  • Polish: bit (pl) m
  • Portuguese: bit (pt) m
  • Romanian: bit (ro) m
  • Russian: бит (ru) m (bit)
  • Slovak: bit
  • Slovene: bit m
  • Spanish: binio m
  • Swahili: charaza (sw)
  • Swedish: bit (sv) c
  • Thai: please add this translation if you can
  • Turkish: bit (tr)
  • Vietnamese: bit (vi)

information theory: unit of measure for information entropy

  • Esperanto: bito

Translations to be checked

  • Indonesian: (please verify) bit (id) (5,6)
  • Interlingua: (please verify) bit (5,6)
See also[edit]
  • ban, nat, qubit

References[edit]

  1. ^ “Six Receive Honorary Degrees at Princeton Commencement”, in (please provide the title of the work)[1], (please provide a date or year), archived from the original on 2002-02-09
  2. ^ (please provide the title of the work)[2], accessed 23 March 2007, archived from the original on 2007-03-03
  3. ^ Claude Shannon (July 1948), “A Mathematical Theory of Communication”, in The Bell System Technical Journal, →DOI

Anagrams[edit]

  • Bti, ITB, TBI, TiB, tib

Azerbaijani[edit]

Other scripts

Cyrillic бит
Perso-Arabic بیت

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Turkic *bït (louse).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [bit]

Noun[edit]

bit (definite accusative biti, plural bitlər)

  1. louse

Declension[edit]

    Declension of bit
singular plural
nominative bit bitlər
definite accusative biti bitləri
dative bitə bitlərə
locative bitdə bitlərdə
ablative bitdən bitlərdən
definite genitive bitin bitlərin
    Possessive forms of bit
nominative
singular plural
mənim (my) bitim bitlərim
sənin (your) bitin bitlərin
onun (his/her/its) biti bitləri
bizim (our) bitimiz bitlərimiz
sizin (your) bitiniz bitləriniz
onların (their) biti or bitləri bitləri
accusative
singular plural
mənim (my) bitimi bitlərimi
sənin (your) bitini bitlərini
onun (his/her/its) bitini bitlərini
bizim (our) bitimizi bitlərimizi
sizin (your) bitinizi bitlərinizi
onların (their) bitini or bitlərini bitlərini
dative
singular plural
mənim (my) bitimə bitlərimə
sənin (your) bitinə bitlərinə
onun (his/her/its) bitinə bitlərinə
bizim (our) bitimizə bitlərimizə
sizin (your) bitinizə bitlərinizə
onların (their) bitinə or bitlərinə bitlərinə
locative
singular plural
mənim (my) bitimdə bitlərimdə
sənin (your) bitində bitlərində
onun (his/her/its) bitində bitlərində
bizim (our) bitimizdə bitlərimizdə
sizin (your) bitinizdə bitlərinizdə
onların (their) bitində or bitlərində bitlərində
ablative
singular plural
mənim (my) bitimdən bitlərimdən
sənin (your) bitindən bitlərindən
onun (his/her/its) bitindən bitlərindən
bizim (our) bitimizdən bitlərimizdən
sizin (your) bitinizdən bitlərinizdən
onların (their) bitindən or bitlərindən bitlərindən
genitive
singular plural
mənim (my) bitimin bitlərimin
sənin (your) bitinin bitlərinin
onun (his/her/its) bitinin bitlərinin
bizim (our) bitimizin bitlərimizin
sizin (your) bitinizin bitlərinizin
onların (their) bitinin or bitlərinin bitlərinin

Catalan[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Balearic, Central, Valencian) IPA(key): /ˈbit/
  • Rhymes: -it

Noun[edit]

bit m (plural bits)

  1. (computing) bit

Czech[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ˈbɪt]
  • Rhymes: -ɪt
  • Homophone: byt

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from English bit, from binary digit.

Noun[edit]

bit m

  1. (computing) bit
Declension[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
  • bitový
  • gigabit
  • kilobit
  • megabit
  • osmibitový
  • šestnáctibitový
  • terabit

Etymology 2[edit]

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. masculine singular passive participle of bít

Further reading[edit]

  • bit in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu
  • bit in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
  • bit in Akademický slovník cizích slov, 1995, at prirucka.ujc.cas.cz

Dutch[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bɪt/
  • Hyphenation: bit
  • Rhymes: -ɪt

Etymology 1[edit]

Ablaut of bijten.

Noun[edit]

bit n (plural bitten, diminutive bitje n)

  1. bit (for a working animal)
  2. bit (rotary cutting tool)
  3. mouthguard

Etymology 2[edit]

From English bit.

Noun[edit]

bit m (plural bits, diminutive bitje n)

  1. bit (binary digit)
  2. bit (unit of storage)
  3. bit (datum with two possible values)

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bit/

Noun[edit]

bit m (plural bits)

  1. (computing) bit

Derived terms[edit]

  • bit le moins significatif
  • bit le plus significatif

Further reading[edit]

  • “bit”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Hungarian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English bit.[1]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ˈbit]
  • Hyphenation: bit
  • Rhymes: -it

Noun[edit]

bit (plural bitek)

  1. (computing) bit (binary digit)

Declension[edit]

Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)
singular plural
nominative bit bitek
accusative bitet biteket
dative bitnek biteknek
instrumental bittel bitekkel
causal-final bitért bitekért
translative bitté bitekké
terminative bitig bitekig
essive-formal bitként bitekként
essive-modal
inessive bitben bitekben
superessive biten biteken
adessive bitnél biteknél
illative bitbe bitekbe
sublative bitre bitekre
allative bithez bitekhez
elative bitből bitekből
delative bitről bitekről
ablative bittől bitektől
non-attributive
possessive — singular
bité biteké
non-attributive
possessive — plural
bitéi bitekéi
Possessive forms of bit
possessor single possession multiple possessions
1st person sing. bitem bitjeim
2nd person sing. bited bitjeid
3rd person sing. bitje bitjei
1st person plural bitünk bitjeink
2nd person plural bitetek bitjeitek
3rd person plural bitjük bitjeik

Derived terms[edit]

  • jelzőbit

References[edit]

  1. ^ Tótfalusi, István. Idegenszó-tár: Idegen szavak értelmező és etimológiai szótára (’A Storehouse of Foreign Words: an explanatory and etymological dictionary of foreign words’). Budapest: Tinta Könyvkiadó, 2005. →ISBN

Indonesian[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ˈbɪt]
  • Hyphenation: bit

Etymology 1[edit]

From English bit (binary digit), from Middle English bitte, bite, from Old English bita (bit; fragment; morsel) and bite (a bite; cut), from Proto-Germanic *bitô and *bitiz; both from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (to split).

Noun[edit]

bit (first-person possessive bitku, second-person possessive bitmu, third-person possessive bitnya)

  1. (computing) bit, smallest unit of storage.

Etymology 2[edit]

From Dutch biet, from Middle Dutch bete, from Latin bēta.

Noun[edit]

bit (first-person possessive bitku, second-person possessive bitmu, third-person possessive bitnya)

  1. Beta vulgaris, common beet, beetroot, sugar beet, and chard.

Further reading[edit]

  • “bit” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.

Lashi[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bit/

Noun[edit]

bit

  1. sun

References[edit]

  • Hkaw Luk (2017) A grammatical sketch of Lacid[5], Chiang Mai: Payap University (master thesis)

Lower Sorbian[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bʲit/

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. supine of biś

Nigerian Pidgin[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English beat.

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. beat

Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Old Norse biti.

Noun[edit]

bit m (definite singular biten, indefinite plural biter, definite plural bitene)

  1. a bit, piece (of something)
  2. a bite, mouthful (of food)
Derived terms[edit]
  • isbit
  • smakebit

Etymology 2[edit]

From English bit (binary digit).

Noun[edit]

bit m (definite singular biten, indefinite plural bit or biter, definite plural bitene)

  1. a bit (binary digit)

References[edit]

  • “bit” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From Old Norse.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /biːt/

Noun[edit]

bit m (definite singular biten, indefinite plural bitar, definite plural bitane)

  1. a bit, piece (of something)
Derived terms[edit]
  • isbit
  • smakebit

Etymology 2[edit]

From English bit (binary digit).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bɪtː/

Noun[edit]

bit m (definite singular biten, indefinite plural bit or bitar, definit plural bitane)

  1. a bit (binary digit)

Etymology 3[edit]

From Old Norse bit.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /biːt/

Noun[edit]

bit n (definite singular bitet, indefinite plural bit, definite plural bita)

  1. a bite (e.g. insect bite, dog bite)
  2. a bite, mouthful (of food)

Etymology 4[edit]

From the first person singular present indicative of Old Norse bíta, and from the second person singular imperative Old Norse bíta.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /biːt/

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. inflection of bite:
    1. present
    2. imperative

References[edit]

  • “bit” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Old Irish[edit]

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. third-person plural future of is

Polish[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bit/
  • Rhymes: -it
  • Syllabification: bit
  • Homophone: bid

Etymology 1[edit]

Borrowed from English bit.

Noun[edit]

bit m inan

  1. (mathematics, computing) bit (binary digit, generally represented as a 1 or 0)
    bit informacjia bit of information
    bit po biciebit by bit
Declension[edit]

The genitive singular form bita is overall less common.

Derived terms[edit]
  • bitowy
[edit]
  • bitmapowy
  • bitmapa

Etymology 2[edit]

Borrowed from English beat.

Noun[edit]

bit m inan

  1. beat (instrumental portion of a piece of hip-hop music)
  2. (music) beat (rhythm signalled by a conductor or other musician to the members of a group of musicians)
Declension[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
  • beat

Etymology 3[edit]

Borrowed from English drill bit.

Noun[edit]

bit m inan

  1. drill bit
Declension[edit]

Etymology 4[edit]

Borrowed from English big beat.

Alternative forms[edit]

  • beat

Noun[edit]

bit m inan

  1. big beat (form of pop music having distorted breakbeats at a moderate tempo)
    Synonym: big-beat
    polski bitPolish big beat
Declension[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • bit in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • bit in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Unadapted borrowing from English bit.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈbi.t͡ʃi/
    • (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /ˈbi.te/
  • (Portugal) IPA(key): /ˈbi.t(ɨ)/

Noun[edit]

bit m (plural bits)

  1. (mathematics, computing) bit (binary digit)

Synonyms[edit]

  • Abbreviations: b

Coordinate terms[edit]

  • Multiples: kilobit, megabit, gigabit, terabit, petabit, exabit, zettabit, yottabit

[edit]

  • byte (unit equivalent to 8 bits)

Romanian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English bit or French bit.

Noun[edit]

bit m (plural biți)

  1. (computing) bit

Declension[edit]

Declension of bit

singular plural
indefinite articulation definite articulation indefinite articulation definite articulation
nominative/accusative (un) bit bitul (niște) biți biții
genitive/dative (unui) bit bitului (unor) biți biților
vocative bitule biților

Saterland Frisian[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Related to German bis.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bɪt/
  • Hyphenation: bit
  • Rhymes: -ɪt

Conjunction[edit]

bit

  1. until

Preposition[edit]

bit

  1. until, to

Derived terms[edit]

  • bit tou

References[edit]

  • Marron C. Fort (2015), “bit”, in Saterfriesisches Wörterbuch mit einer phonologischen und grammatischen Übersicht, Buske, →ISBN

Scots[edit]

Adjective[edit]

bit

  1. Little.
    • 1889, Jessup Whitehead, The Steward’s Handbook and Guide to Party Catering (page 439)
      A bit wee lambie
    • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide
      He laid a hundred guineas with the laird of Slofferfield that he would drive four horses through the Slofferfield loch, and in the prank he had his bit chariot dung to pieces and a good mare killed.

Serbo-Croatian[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]

From bȉti (to be).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bîːt/

Noun[edit]

bȋt f (Cyrillic spelling би̑т)

  1. essence
  2. point, meaning
Declension[edit]

Etymology 2[edit]

From English bit.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bît/

Noun[edit]

bȉt m (Cyrillic spelling би̏т)

  1. (computing) bit
Declension[edit]

Slavomolisano[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Serbo-Croatian biti, from Proto-Slavic *byti, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *bū́ˀtei, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH-.

Verb[edit]

bit pf or impf

  1. to be

References[edit]

  • Walter Breu and Giovanni Piccoli (2000), Dizionario croato molisano di Acquaviva Collecroce: Dizionario plurilingue della lingua slava della minoranza di provenienza dalmata di Acquaviva Collecroce in Provincia di Campobasso (Parte grammaticale)., pp. 409–412

Spanish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English bit.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈbit/ [ˈbit̪]
  • Rhymes: -it
  • Syllabification: bit

Noun[edit]

bit m (plural bits)

  1. bit (binary digit)

Further reading[edit]

  • “bit”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

Swedish[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old Norse biti, noun definitions 2 and 4: From English bit, from binary digit.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /biːt/ (1–4)
  • IPA(key): /bɪt/ (3–4)

Noun[edit]

bit c

  1. bit, a piece (small piece)
  2. bit (portion)
  3. bit (binary digit)
  4. bit (unit of storage)
  5. bit, a tune (piece of music)

Declension[edit]

Declension of bit 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative bit biten bitar bitarna
Genitive bits bitens bitars bitarnas

Derived terms[edit]

  • bitsocker (sugar in the form of sugar cubes, lump sugar)
  • pusselbit (puzzle piece)
  • sockerbit (sugar cube)

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. imperative of bita.

Turkish[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈbit/

Etymology 1[edit]

From Ottoman Turkish بیت‎, بت‎, from Proto-Turkic *bït (louse).

Noun[edit]

bit (definite accusative biti, plural bitler)

  1. (zoology) louse
Declension[edit]
Inflection
Nominative bit
Definite accusative biti
Singular Plural
Nominative bit bitler
Definite accusative biti bitleri
Dative bite bitlere
Locative bitte bitlerde
Ablative bitten bitlerden
Genitive bitin bitlerin
Possessive forms
Nominative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitim bitlerim
2nd singular bitin bitlerin
3rd singular biti bitleri
1st plural bitimiz bitlerimiz
2nd plural bitiniz bitleriniz
3rd plural bitleri bitleri
Definite accusative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimi bitlerimi
2nd singular bitini bitlerini
3rd singular bitini bitlerini
1st plural bitimizi bitlerimizi
2nd plural bitinizi bitlerinizi
3rd plural bitlerini bitlerini
Dative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitime bitlerime
2nd singular bitine bitlerine
3rd singular bitine bitlerine
1st plural bitimize bitlerimize
2nd plural bitinize bitlerinize
3rd plural bitlerine bitlerine
Locative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimde bitlerimde
2nd singular bitinde bitlerinde
3rd singular bitinde bitlerinde
1st plural bitimizde bitlerimizde
2nd plural bitinizde bitlerinizde
3rd plural bitlerinde bitlerinde
Ablative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimden bitlerimden
2nd singular bitinden bitlerinden
3rd singular bitinden bitlerinden
1st plural bitimizden bitlerimizden
2nd plural bitinizden bitlerinizden
3rd plural bitlerinden bitlerinden
Genitive
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimin bitlerimin
2nd singular bitinin bitlerinin
3rd singular bitinin bitlerinin
1st plural bitimizin bitlerimizin
2nd plural bitinizin bitlerinizin
3rd plural bitlerinin bitlerinin
Predicative forms
Singular Plural
1st singular bitim bitlerim
2nd singular bitsin bitlersin
3rd singular bit
bittir
bitler
bitlerdir
1st plural bitiz bitleriz
2nd plural bitsiniz bitlersiniz
3rd plural bitler bitlerdir
Derived terms[edit]
  • bit yeniği (fishy)
  • bitli (lousy)
See also[edit]
  • pire (flea)

Etymology 2[edit]

Borrowed from English bit, abbreviation of binary digit.

Noun[edit]

bit (definite accusative biti, plural bitler)

  1. (computing) bit
Declension[edit]
Inflection
Nominative bit
Definite accusative biti
Singular Plural
Nominative bit bitler
Definite accusative biti bitleri
Dative bite bitlere
Locative bitte bitlerde
Ablative bitten bitlerden
Genitive bitin bitlerin
Possessive forms
Nominative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitim bitlerim
2nd singular bitin bitlerin
3rd singular biti bitleri
1st plural bitimiz bitlerimiz
2nd plural bitiniz bitleriniz
3rd plural bitleri bitleri
Definite accusative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimi bitlerimi
2nd singular bitini bitlerini
3rd singular bitini bitlerini
1st plural bitimizi bitlerimizi
2nd plural bitinizi bitlerinizi
3rd plural bitlerini bitlerini
Dative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitime bitlerime
2nd singular bitine bitlerine
3rd singular bitine bitlerine
1st plural bitimize bitlerimize
2nd plural bitinize bitlerinize
3rd plural bitlerine bitlerine
Locative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimde bitlerimde
2nd singular bitinde bitlerinde
3rd singular bitinde bitlerinde
1st plural bitimizde bitlerimizde
2nd plural bitinizde bitlerinizde
3rd plural bitlerinde bitlerinde
Ablative
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimden bitlerimden
2nd singular bitinden bitlerinden
3rd singular bitinden bitlerinden
1st plural bitimizden bitlerimizden
2nd plural bitinizden bitlerinizden
3rd plural bitlerinden bitlerinden
Genitive
Singular Plural
1st singular bitimin bitlerimin
2nd singular bitinin bitlerinin
3rd singular bitinin bitlerinin
1st plural bitimizin bitlerimizin
2nd plural bitinizin bitlerinizin
3rd plural bitlerinin bitlerinin
Predicative forms
Singular Plural
1st singular bitim bitlerim
2nd singular bitsin bitlersin
3rd singular bit
bittir
bitler
bitlerdir
1st plural bitiz bitleriz
2nd plural bitsiniz bitlersiniz
3rd plural bitler bitlerdir

Etymology 3[edit]

Verb[edit]

bit

  1. second-person singular imperative of bitmek

Turkmen[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-Turkic *bït (louse). Cognate with Old Turkic [script needed] (bit), Turkish bit (louse), etc.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /bit̪/

Noun[edit]

bit (definite accusative bidi, plural bitler)

  1. (zoology) louse

Declension[edit]

Vietnamese[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [ʔɓit̚˧˧]
  • (Huế) IPA(key): [ʔɓit̚˧˧]
  • (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [ʔɓɨt̚˧˧]
  • Audio (Ho Chi Minh City) (file)

Noun[edit]

bit

  1. (computing) bit

Zhuang[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (Standard Zhuang) IPA(key): /pit˥/
  • Tone numbers: bit7
  • Hyphenation: bit

Etymology 1[edit]

From Proto-Tai *pitᴰ (duck). Cognate with Thai เป็ด (bpèt), Lao ເປັດ (pet), ᦵᦔᧆ (ṗed), Tai Dam ꪹꪜꪸꪒ, Shan ပဵတ်း (páet), Ahom 𑜆𑜢𑜄𑜫 (pit), Bouyei bidt, Saek ปิ๊ด. Compare Old Chinese (OC *pʰid).

Noun[edit]

bit (classifier duz, Sawndip forms or 𱈶 or ⿰品鳥, 1957–1982 spelling bit)

  1. duck
Derived terms[edit]
  • roegbit

Etymology 2[edit]

From Chinese (MC pˠiɪt̚).

Noun[edit]

bit (classifier gaiq, Sawndip forms 𣭈 or 𰚎, 1957–1982 spelling bit)

  1. pen; pencil; writing implement

Classifier[edit]

bit (1957–1982 spelling bit)

  1. Classifier for sums of money and deals.

Etymology 3[edit]

From Chinese (MC pʰiɪt̚).

Classifier[edit]

bit (1957–1982 spelling bit)

  1. Classifier for cloth: bolt of
Word BIT
Character 3
Hyphenation bit
Pronunciations /bɪt/

Sorry, your browser does not support the audio element!

What do we mean by bit?

The sharp part of a tool, such as the cutting edge of a knife or ax. noun

A pointed and threaded tool for drilling and boring that is secured in a brace, bitstock, or drill press. noun

The part of a key that enters the lock and engages the bolt and tumblers. noun

The tip of the mouthpiece on a pipe or a cigarette or cigar holder. noun

The metal mouthpiece of a bridle, serving to control, curb, and direct an animal. noun

Something that controls, guides, or curbs. noun

To place a bit in the mouth of (a horse, for example). transitive verb

To check or control with or as if with a bit. transitive verb

To make or grind a bit on (a key). transitive verb

(have/take) To be uncontrollable; cast off restraint. idiom

A binary digit, having either the value 0 or 1, used to store or represent data. noun

A small portion, degree, or amount. noun

A brief amount of time; a moment. noun

A short scene or episode in a theatrical performance. noun

A bit part. noun

An entertainment routine given regularly by a performer; an act. noun

A particular kind of action, situation, or behavior. noun

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

A rotary cutting tool fitted to a drill, used to bore holes.

A coin of a specified value.

A ten-cent piece, dime.

A unit of currency or coin in the Americas worth a fraction of a Spanish dollar; now specifically, an eighth of a US dollar.

In the southern and southwestern states, a small silver coin (such as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12½ cents; also, the sum of 12½ cents.

A small amount of something.

Specifically, a small amount of time.

(plural) Fractions of a second.

A portion of something.

Somewhat; something, but not very great; also used like jot and whit to express the smallest degree. See also a bit.

A prison sentence, especially a short one.

An excerpt of material making up part of a show, comedy routine, etc.

A small part or role, sometimes with spoken lines, in a theatrical performance.

The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers.

The cutting iron of a plane.

The bevelled front edge of an axehead along which the cutting edge runs.

A routine or section of a routine during a stand-up comedy show of approximately 1-4 jokes in length. Urban Dictionary

When someone bullshits you and you bullshit them back, sometimes continuing until someone cracks/laughs Urban Dictionary

Binary digIT — the least amount of information there is, i.e. yes or no, true or false, on or off. Eight bits make a byte Urban Dictionary

An unspecified short amount of time (usually less than an hour).
Can be used to indicate that events will follow a normal timescale, or otherwise be used to postpone an event for a time.
A ‘bit’ usually refers to the expected or average amount of time that should be taken to complete the task in question.
When postponing an event, however, a ‘bit’ can be considerably longer.
Eg, If you are due to visit a friend who lives a 15 minute drive away, to be round ‘in a bit’ could indicate that you will be there in about 1/2 hour, 15 minutes preparation to leave and 15 minutes driving.
The expression ‘in a bit’ is often used in Midland dialect as a farewell, similar to laters.
‘A bit’ should not however be confused with ‘Quite a bit’, which always indicates an unusually large amount of time (or something else), and is analogous to a ‘while’. Urban Dictionary

Prison lingo for a usually short prison sentence. Urban Dictionary

A word that is short for the term «bittie» Urban Dictionary

In the Western States after the War with Mexico U.S. coins were not commonly circulated; however the peso ( Mexican, Spanish) was common. The exchange rate (circa 1849) was one peso to one dollar. To convert small change the peso was cut in eighths. One eighth was one bit of a peso, or 12 and one half cents. Two bits was 25 cents and so on. The expression two bits or four bits or six bits is still used in this manner in the Far West, especially in Northern California. Urban Dictionary

BInary digiT. The smallest unit of information on a computer/machine. A single bit can only hold one of 2 values, either 0 or 1. Urban Dictionary

A hot girl. Only used to describe girls you want to fuck. You can’t say, for instance, your friend’s mom is a bit. Unless she really is, in which case go for it, you fuckin dog.
Shortening of biddy. Urban Dictionary

French word to tell a dick Urban Dictionary

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the unit of information. For other uses, see Bit (disambiguation).

«Qbit (quettabit)» redirects here. For quantum bits, see Qubit.

The bit is the most basic unit of information in computing and digital communications. The name is a portmanteau of binary digit.[1] The bit represents a logical state with one of two possible values. These values are most commonly represented as either «1» or «0«, but other representations such as true/false, yes/no, on/off, or +/ are also commonly used.

The relation between these values and the physical states of the underlying storage or device is a matter of convention, and different assignments may be used even within the same device or program. It may be physically implemented with a two-state device.

A contiguous group of binary digits is commonly called a bit string, a bit vector, or a single-dimensional (or multi-dimensional) bit array.
A group of eight bits is called one byte, but historically the size of the byte is not strictly defined.[2] Frequently, half, full, double and quadruple words consist of a number of bytes which is a low power of two. A string of four bits is a nibble.

In information theory, one bit is the information entropy of a random binary variable that is 0 or 1 with equal probability,[3] or the information that is gained when the value of such a variable becomes known.[4][5] As a unit of information, the bit is also known as a shannon,[6] named after Claude E. Shannon.

The symbol for the binary digit is either «bit» as per the IEC 80000-13:2008 standard, or the lowercase character «b», as per the IEEE 1541-2002 standard. Use of the latter may create confusion with the capital «B» which is used for the byte.

History[edit]

The encoding of data by discrete bits was used in the punched cards invented by Basile Bouchon and Jean-Baptiste Falcon (1732), developed by Joseph Marie Jacquard (1804), and later adopted by Semyon Korsakov, Charles Babbage, Hermann Hollerith, and early computer manufacturers like IBM. A variant of that idea was the perforated paper tape. In all those systems, the medium (card or tape) conceptually carried an array of hole positions; each position could be either punched through or not, thus carrying one bit of information. The encoding of text by bits was also used in Morse code (1844) and early digital communications machines such as teletypes and stock ticker machines (1870).

Ralph Hartley suggested the use of a logarithmic measure of information in 1928.[7] Claude E. Shannon first used the word «bit» in his seminal 1948 paper «A Mathematical Theory of Communication».[8][9][10] He attributed its origin to John W. Tukey, who had written a Bell Labs memo on 9 January 1947 in which he contracted «binary information digit» to simply «bit».[8] Vannevar Bush had written in 1936 of «bits of information» that could be stored on the punched cards used in the mechanical computers of that time.[11] The first programmable computer, built by Konrad Zuse, used binary notation for numbers.

Physical representation[edit]

A bit can be stored by a digital device or other physical system that exists in either of two possible distinct states. These may be the two stable states of a flip-flop, two positions of an electrical switch, two distinct voltage or current levels allowed by a circuit, two distinct levels of light intensity, two directions of magnetization or polarization, the orientation of reversible double stranded DNA, etc.

Bits can be implemented in several forms. In most modern computing devices, a bit is usually represented by an electrical voltage or current pulse, or by the electrical state of a flip-flop circuit.

For devices using positive logic, a digit value of 1 (or a logical value of true) is represented by a more positive voltage relative to the representation of 0. Different logic families require different voltages, and variations are allowed to account for component aging and noise immunity. For example, in transistor–transistor logic (TTL) and compatible circuits, digit values 0 and 1 at the output of a device are represented by no higher than 0.4 volts and no lower than 2.6 volts, respectively; while TTL inputs are specified to recognize 0.8 volts or below as 0 and 2.2 volts or above as 1.

Transmission and processing[edit]

Bits are transmitted one at a time in serial transmission, and by a multiple number of bits in parallel transmission. A bitwise operation optionally processes bits one at a time. Data transfer rates are usually measured in decimal SI multiples of the unit bit per second (bit/s), such as kbit/s.

Storage[edit]

In the earliest non-electronic information processing devices, such as Jacquard’s loom or Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a bit was often stored as the position of a mechanical lever or gear, or the presence or absence of a hole at a specific point of a paper card or tape. The first electrical devices for discrete logic (such as elevator and traffic light control circuits, telephone switches, and Konrad Zuse’s computer) represented bits as the states of electrical relays which could be either «open» or «closed». When relays were replaced by vacuum tubes, starting in the 1940s, computer builders experimented with a variety of storage methods, such as pressure pulses traveling down a mercury delay line, charges stored on the inside surface of a cathode-ray tube, or opaque spots printed on glass discs by photolithographic techniques.

In the 1950s and 1960s, these methods were largely supplanted by magnetic storage devices such as magnetic-core memory, magnetic tapes, drums, and disks, where a bit was represented by the polarity of magnetization of a certain area of a ferromagnetic film, or by a change in polarity from one direction to the other. The same principle was later used in the magnetic bubble memory developed in the 1980s, and is still found in various magnetic strip items such as metro tickets and some credit cards.

In modern semiconductor memory, such as dynamic random-access memory, the two values of a bit may be represented by two levels of electric charge stored in a capacitor. In certain types of programmable logic arrays and read-only memory, a bit may be represented by the presence or absence of a conducting path at a certain point of a circuit. In optical discs, a bit is encoded as the presence or absence of a microscopic pit on a reflective surface. In one-dimensional bar codes, bits are encoded as the thickness of alternating black and white lines.

Unit and symbol[edit]

The bit is not defined in the International System of Units (SI). However, the International Electrotechnical Commission issued standard IEC 60027, which specifies that the symbol for binary digit should be ‘bit’, and this should be used in all multiples, such as ‘kbit’, for kilobit.[12] However, the lower-case letter ‘b’ is widely used as well and was recommended by the IEEE 1541 Standard (2002). In contrast, the upper case letter ‘B’ is the standard and customary symbol for byte.

Multiple-bit units

  • v
  • t
  • e
Decimal
Value  Metric 
1000 kbit kilobit
10002 Mbit megabit
10003 Gbit gigabit
10004 Tbit terabit
10005 Pbit petabit
10006 Ebit exabit
10007 Zbit zettabit
10008 Ybit yottabit
10009 Rbit ronnabit
100010 Qbit quettabit
Binary
Value  IEC  JEDEC 
1024 Kibit kibibit Kbit Kb kilobit
10242 Mibit mebibit Mbit Mb megabit
10243 Gibit gibibit Gbit Gb gigabit
10244 Tibit tebibit
10245 Pibit pebibit
10246 Eibit exbibit
10247 Zibit zebibit
10248 Yibit yobibit
Orders of magnitude of data

Multiple bits[edit]

Multiple bits may be expressed and represented in several ways. For convenience of representing commonly reoccurring groups of bits in information technology, several units of information have traditionally been used. The most common is the unit byte, coined by Werner Buchholz in June 1956, which historically was used to represent the group of bits used to encode a single character of text (until UTF-8 multibyte encoding took over) in a computer[2][13][14][15][16] and for this reason it was used as the basic addressable element in many computer architectures. The trend in hardware design converged on the most common implementation of using eight bits per byte, as it is widely used today. However, because of the ambiguity of relying on the underlying hardware design, the unit octet was defined to explicitly denote a sequence of eight bits.

Computers usually manipulate bits in groups of a fixed size, conventionally named «words». Like the byte, the number of bits in a word also varies with the hardware design, and is typically between 8 and 80 bits, or even more in some specialized computers. In the 21st century, retail personal or server computers have a word size of 32 or 64 bits.

The International System of Units defines a series of decimal prefixes for multiples of standardized units which are commonly also used with the bit and the byte. The prefixes kilo (103) through yotta (1024) increment by multiples of one thousand, and the corresponding units are the kilobit (kbit) through the yottabit (Ybit).

Information capacity and information compression[edit]

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: it cites a fact about global information content in computers from 2007. Please help update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information. (October 2018)

When the information capacity of a storage system or a communication channel is presented in bits or bits per second, this often refers to binary digits, which is a computer hardware capacity to store binary data (0 or 1, up or down, current or not, etc.).[17] Information capacity of a storage system is only an upper bound to the quantity of information stored therein. If the two possible values of one bit of storage are not equally likely, that bit of storage contains less than one bit of information. If the value is completely predictable, then the reading of that value provides no information at all (zero entropic bits, because no resolution of uncertainty occurs and therefore no information is available). If a computer file that uses n bits of storage contains only m < n bits of information, then that information can in principle be encoded in about m bits, at least on the average. This principle is the basis of data compression technology. Using an analogy, the hardware binary digits refer to the amount of storage space available (like the number of buckets available to store things), and the information content the filling, which comes in different levels of granularity (fine or coarse, that is, compressed or uncompressed information). When the granularity is finer—when information is more compressed—the same bucket can hold more.

For example, it is estimated that the combined technological capacity of the world to store information provides 1,300 exabytes of hardware digits. However, when this storage space is filled and the corresponding content is optimally compressed, this only represents 295 exabytes of information.[18] When optimally compressed, the resulting carrying capacity approaches Shannon information or information entropy.[17]

Bit-based computing[edit]

Certain bitwise computer processor instructions (such as bit set) operate at the level of manipulating bits rather than manipulating data interpreted as an aggregate of bits.

In the 1980s, when bitmapped computer displays became popular, some computers provided specialized bit block transfer instructions to set or copy the bits that corresponded to a given rectangular area on the screen.

In most computers and programming languages, when a bit within a group of bits, such as a byte or word, is referred to, it is usually specified by a number from 0 upwards corresponding to its position within the byte or word. However, 0 can refer to either the most or least significant bit depending on the context.

Other information units[edit]

Similar to torque and energy in physics; information-theoretic information and data storage size have the same dimensionality of units of measurement, but there is in general no meaning to adding, subtracting or otherwise combining the units mathematically, although one may act as a bound on the other.

Units of information used in information theory include the shannon (Sh), the natural unit of information (nat) and the hartley (Hart). One shannon is the maximum amount of information needed to specify the state of one bit of storage. These are related by 1 Sh ≈ 0.693 nat ≈ 0.301 Hart.

Some authors also define a binit as an arbitrary information unit equivalent to some fixed but unspecified number of bits.[19]

See also[edit]

  • Byte
  • Integer (computer science)
  • Primitive data type
  • Trit (Trinary digit)
  • Qubit (quantum bit)
  • Bitstream
  • Entropy (information theory)
  • Bit rate and baud rate
  • Binary numeral system
  • Ternary numeral system
  • Shannon (unit)
  • Nibble

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mackenzie, Charles E. (1980). Coded Character Sets, History and Development. The Systems Programming Series (1 ed.). Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. p. x. ISBN 978-0-201-14460-4. LCCN 77-90165. Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2016-05-22. [1]
  2. ^ a b Bemer, Robert William (2000-08-08). «Why is a byte 8 bits? Or is it?». Computer History Vignettes. Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2017-04-03. […] With IBM’s STRETCH computer as background, handling 64-character words divisible into groups of 8 (I designed the character set for it, under the guidance of Dr. Werner Buchholz, the man who DID coin the term «byte» for an 8-bit grouping). […] The IBM 360 used 8-bit characters, although not ASCII directly. Thus Buchholz’s «byte» caught on everywhere. I myself did not like the name for many reasons. […]
  3. ^ Anderson, John B.; Johnnesson, Rolf (2006), Understanding Information Transmission
  4. ^ Haykin, Simon (2006), Digital Communications
  5. ^ IEEE Std 260.1-2004
  6. ^ «Units: B». Archived from the original on 2016-05-04.
  7. ^ Abramson, Norman (1963). Information theory and coding. McGraw-Hill.
  8. ^ a b Shannon, Claude Elwood (July 1948). «A Mathematical Theory of Communication» (PDF). Bell System Technical Journal. 27 (3): 379–423. doi:10.1002/j.1538-7305.1948.tb01338.x. hdl:11858/00-001M-0000-002C-4314-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1998-07-15. The choice of a logarithmic base corresponds to the choice of a unit for measuring information. If the base 2 is used the resulting units may be called binary digits, or more briefly bits, a word suggested by J. W. Tukey.
  9. ^ Shannon, Claude Elwood (October 1948). «A Mathematical Theory of Communication». Bell System Technical Journal. 27 (4): 623–666. doi:10.1002/j.1538-7305.1948.tb00917.x. hdl:11858/00-001M-0000-002C-4314-2.
  10. ^ Shannon, Claude Elwood; Weaver, Warren (1949). A Mathematical Theory of Communication (PDF). University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-72548-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1998-07-15.
  11. ^ Bush, Vannevar (1936). «Instrumental analysis». Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society. 42 (10): 649–669. doi:10.1090/S0002-9904-1936-06390-1. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06.
  12. ^ National Institute of Standards and Technology (2008), Guide for the Use of the International System of Units. Online version. Archived 3 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Buchholz, Werner (1956-06-11). «7. The Shift Matrix» (PDF). The Link System. IBM. pp. 5–6. Stretch Memo No. 39G. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2016-04-04. […] Most important, from the point of view of editing, will be the ability to handle any characters or digits, from 1 to 6 bits long […] the Shift Matrix to be used to convert a 60-bit word, coming from Memory in parallel, into characters, or «bytes» as we have called them, to be sent to the Adder serially. The 60 bits are dumped into magnetic cores on six different levels. Thus, if a 1 comes out of position 9, it appears in all six cores underneath. […] The Adder may accept all or only some of the bits. […] Assume that it is desired to operate on 4 bit decimal digits, starting at the right. The 0-diagonal is pulsed first, sending out the six bits 0 to 5, of which the Adder accepts only the first four (0-3). Bits 4 and 5 are ignored. Next, the 4 diagonal is pulsed. This sends out bits 4 to 9, of which the last two are again ignored, and so on. […] It is just as easy to use all six bits in alphanumeric work, or to handle bytes of only one bit for logical analysis, or to offset the bytes by any number of bits. […]
  14. ^ Buchholz, Werner (February 1977). «The Word «Byte» Comes of Age…» Byte Magazine. 2 (2): 144. […] The first reference found in the files was contained in an internal memo written in June 1956 during the early days of developing Stretch. A byte was described as consisting of any number of parallel bits from one to six. Thus a byte was assumed to have a length appropriate for the occasion. Its first use was in the context of the input-output equipment of the 1950s, which handled six bits at a time. The possibility of going to 8 bit bytes was considered in August 1956 and incorporated in the design of Stretch shortly thereafter. The first published reference to the term occurred in 1959 in a paper «Processing Data in Bits and Pieces» by G A Blaauw, F P Brooks Jr and W Buchholz in the IRE Transactions on Electronic Computers, June 1959, page 121. The notions of that paper were elaborated in Chapter 4 of Planning a Computer System (Project Stretch), edited by W Buchholz, McGraw-Hill Book Company (1962). The rationale for coining the term was explained there on page 40 as follows:
    Byte denotes a group of bits used to encode a character, or the number of bits transmitted in parallel to and from input-output units. A term other than character is used here because a given character may be represented in different applications by more than one code, and different codes may use different numbers of bits (ie, different byte sizes). In input-output transmission the grouping of bits may be completely arbitrary and have no relation to actual characters. (The term is coined from bite, but respelled to avoid accidental mutation to bit.)
    System/360 took over many of the Stretch concepts, including the basic byte and word sizes, which are powers of 2. For economy, however, the byte size was fixed at the 8 bit maximum, and addressing at the bit level was replaced by byte addressing. […]
  15. ^ Blaauw, Gerrit Anne; Brooks, Jr., Frederick Phillips; Buchholz, Werner (1962), «Chapter 4: Natural Data Units» (PDF), in Buchholz, Werner (ed.), Planning a Computer System – Project Stretch, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. / The Maple Press Company, York, PA., pp. 39–40, LCCN 61-10466, archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-03, retrieved 2017-04-03
  16. ^ Bemer, Robert William (1959). «A proposal for a generalized card code of 256 characters». Communications of the ACM. 2 (9): 19–23. doi:10.1145/368424.368435. S2CID 36115735.
  17. ^ a b Information in small bits Information in Small Bits is a book produced as part of a non-profit outreach project of the IEEE Information Theory Society.
    The book introduces Claude Shannon and basic concepts of Information Theory to children 8 and older using relatable cartoon stories and problem-solving activities.
  18. ^ «The World’s Technological Capacity to Store, Communicate, and Compute Information» Archived 2013-07-27 at the Wayback Machine, especially Supporting online material Archived 2011-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, Martin Hilbert and Priscila López (2011), Science, 332(6025), 60-65; free access to the article through here: martinhilbert.net/WorldInfoCapacity.html
  19. ^ Bhattacharya, Amitabha (2005). Digital Communication. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. ISBN 978-0-07059117-2. Archived from the original on 2017-03-27.

External links[edit]

Look up bit in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

  • Bit Calculator – a tool providing conversions between bit, byte, kilobit, kilobyte, megabit, megabyte, gigabit, gigabyte
  • BitXByteConverter – a tool for computing file sizes, storage capacity, and digital information in various units

Meaning bit

What does bit mean? Here you find 192 meanings of the word bit. You can also add a definition of bit yourself

1

1

 
0

The tool used to crush or cut rock. Everything on a drilling rig directly or indirectly assists the bit in crushing or cutting the rock. The bit is on the bottom of the drillstring and must be changed [..]

2

1

 
0

bit

Relationships Related Term:  byte character set n. ~ 1. A b(inary dig)it. — 2. The smallest unit of information in a binary system. Notes:  A string of bits can be used to represent a number using o [..]

3

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information storage; a contraction of the term &quot;binary digit;&quot; one of two symbolsÑ&quot;0&quot; (zero) and &quot;1&quot; (one) — that are used t [..]

4

0

 
0

bit

See Binary digit.

5

0

 
0

bit

From binary digit, is a basic unit of data storage, and has a value of either 0 or 1. Eight bits = one byte (See «Byte» below)

6

0

 
0

bit

A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of digital information. Eight bits equals one byte. Digital images are often described by the number of bits used to represent each pixel, i.e., a 1-bit image [..]

7

0

 
0

bit

computerese word, 1948 abbreviation coined by U.S. computer pioneer John W. Tukey (1915-2000) of binary digit, probably chosen for its identity with bit (n.1).

8

0

 
0

bit

past tense of bite.

9

0

 
0

bit

«small piece,» c. 1200; related Old English bite «act of biting,» and bita «piece bitten off,» probably are the source of the modern words meaning «boring-piece of a [..]

10

0

 
0

bit

The smallest piece of computer information, either the number 0 or 1. In short they are called binary digits.

11

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit (either 0 or 1); it is the most basic unit of data that can be recognized and processed by a computer. 

12

0

 
0

bit

A ‘bit’ is a basic unit of information in computing, essentially a ‘1’ or ‘0’. Bits per second (bps) is a common measure for data transmission speed. The speed in bps is [..]

13

0

 
0

bit

A unit of measurement indicating the information capacity of one binary digit.

14

0

 
0

bit

The hardened and strengthened device at the end of a drill rod that transmits the energy of breakage to the rock. The size of the bit determines the size of the hole. A bit may be either detachable fr [..]

15

0

 
0

bit

Bit [N]the curb put into the mouths of horses to restrain them. The Hebrew word (metheg) so rendered in Psalms 32:9 is elsewhere translated «bridle» ( 2 Kings 19:28 ; Proverbs 26:3 ; Isaiah [..]

16

0

 
0

bit

A binary unit of information. A small piece of sea ice; a single fragment of brash.

17

0

 
0

bit

horse’s bit placed in between teeth to attach rein.

18

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information in a computer, with a value of either 0 or 1.

19

0

 
0

bit

  BInary digiT. A 1 or a 0. The basic element of digital communication.

20

0

 
0

bit

(Binary DigIT) A single digit number in base-2, in other words, either a 1 or a zero. The smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidthis usually measured in bits-per-second. See also: Bandwidth, Bit, [..]

21

0

 
0

bit

Bit is a single digit in the binary numbering system (base 2). For example: 1 is a bit or 0 is a bit.

22

0

 
0

bit

The basic unit of data representation in digital computers. a memory location that can have one of two values.

23

0

 
0

bit

Short for binary digit (0 or 1). Lower case b is used in abbreviations to distinguish it from bytes. For example, KBps (thousand bytes per second) is 8 times as great as Kbps (thousand bits per second [..]

24

0

 
0

bit

Abbreviation for binary digit. Used in all digital communications. A bit is a binary unit, represented by either a «0» or a «1».

25

0

 
0

bit

Elementary unit of information/data stored as a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities, such as 1 or 0 in binary notation.

26

0

 
0

bit

spot: a small piece or quantity of something; &amp;quot;a spot of tea&amp;quot;; &amp;quot;a bit of paper&amp;quot;; &amp;quot;a bit of lint&amp;quot;; &amp;quot;I gave him [..]

27

0

 
0

bit

Bilateral investment treaty

28

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit, either a 0 or 1. In the U. S. , 8 bits make up one byte; in Europe, byte equals one word.

29

0

 
0

bit

A contraction of the term binary digit. The bit is the basic unit of digital data. It may be in one of two states, logic 1 or logic 0. It may be thought of as a switch which is either on or off. Bits [..]

30

0

 
0

bit

A base-level unit of information for content storage and transport, a bit can have either 0 or 1 as its value, which also refer to on/off or yes/no. Eight bits equal a byte. Various levels of bytes (k [..]

31

0

 
0

bit

A bit is a single digit number that is in base of 2 (either a zero or one). Bandwidth usage is measured in bits per second.

32

0

 
0

bit

a small piece of something

33

0

 
0

bit

Abbreviation for binary digit. 1. A character used to represent one of the two digits in the numeration system with a base of two, and only two, possible states of a physical entity or system. 2. In binary notation either of the characters 0 or 1. 3. A unit of information equal to one binary decision or the designation of one of two possible and eq [..]

34

0

 
0

bit

the smallest unit of computer memory storage capacity.

35

0

 
0

bit

[from the mainstream meaning and `Binary digIT’] n. 1. [techspeak] The unit of information; the amount of information obtained by asking a yes-or-no question for which the two outcomes are equall [..]

36

0

 
0

bit

A bit (an acronym standing for Binary digIT) was a unit of information stored in a computer. It was commonly represented as a zero (0) or one (1).

37

0

 
0

bit

WebGuest Dictionary The smallest unit of computerized data. A bit is either &quot;on&quot; or &quot;off&quot; and is represented by &quot;1&quot; or &quot;0&quot;.

38

0

 
0

bit

Bit is Binary Digit. It refers to a digit number, either a 0 or a 1. The binary digit is used to represent computerized data.

39

0

 
0

bit

is the smallest unit of data. There are 8 bits to a byte.

40

0

 
0

bit

Binary digIT. A single digit number in base-2 (binary), in other words, either a one or a zero. The smallest unit of computerized data. The term ‘bit’ was coined by early computer scientist [..]

41

0

 
0

bit

the curb put into the mouths of horses to restrain them. The Hebrew word (metheg) so rendered in Ps. 32:9 is elsewhere translated «bridle» (2 Kings 19:28; Prov. 26:3; Isa. 37:29). Bits were [..]

42

0

 
0

bit

A bit (short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of measurement in computing. 8 bits make up 1 byte.

43

0

 
0

bit

A measure of quantity of data. A bit is one binary digit, a 0 or a 1.

44

0

 
0

bit

A Bit is an individual binary digit. A Byte is a collection of 8 bits.

45

0

 
0

bit

Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. The term was first used in 1946 by John Tukey, a leading statistician and adviser to five presidents. A single bit can hold only [..]

46

0

 
0

bit

Binary digIT — A bit is the smallest unit of computerised data. A bit is represented by a 0 or a 1. Eight bits typically make up a byte.

47

0

 
0

bit

bisl or bisel

48

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information in the binary system of notation.

49

0

 
0

bit

A contraction of binary digit, either of the two values (0 and 1) used in the binary number system and as the smallest unit of storage in digital computers. In personal computers, data is stored and p [..]

50

0

 
0

bit

An abbreviation for binary digit. A single character in a binary number. A single pulse in a group of pulses. A unit of information capacity of a storage device.

51

0

 
0

bit

Noun. A woman. Abb. of ‘bit of fluff’ or ‘bit of skirt’, generally a person viewed sexually. Derog.

52

0

 
0

bit

A bit is the smallest measure of data. It is a compilation of letter from Binary digIT. See byte; it takes 8 bits to make a byte. Don’t know your KB from your MB? You can see the conversion of bit flow rate units in our Data Rate Converter. If you are seeking byte conversion, please use our Memory and Storage Converter. For sample download tim [..]

53

0

 
0

bit

Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of information on a machine. A single bit can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1.

54

0

 
0

bit

The number of bits used to represent a character. For personal computers a byte is usually 8 bits.

55

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit that is 1 or 0. A string of bit’s makes a byte (see below)

56

0

 
0

bit

A unit of measurement that represents one figure or character of data. A bit is the smallest unit of storage in a computer. Since computers actually read 0s and 1s, each is measured as a bit. The letter A consists of 8 bits which amounts to one byte. Bits are often used to measure the capability of a microprocessor to process data, such as 16-bit o [..]

57

0

 
0

bit

(Binary DigIT) — A bit is the smallest unit of computerized data, comprised of either a 0 (off) or a 1 (on). Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second. See Also: Bandwidth, Bps, Byte

58

0

 
0

bit

A minor acting role in which an actor may only speak a few lines.

59

0

 
0

bit

Contraction of binary digit. A bit is the smallest measurement unit of computer memory or data transmission speed, e.g. via a Modem. See the entry on Measurement Units. See Byte, Kilobit, Kilobyte, Me [..]

60

0

 
0

bit

A single piece of computer information — either 0 or 1 (off or on).

61

0

 
0

bit

A bit is the smallest unit of information on a computer. This is rarely referred to as the more common unit is the byte, which is a groupof 8 bits.

62

0

 
0

bit

In computers, the basic unit of digital information; contraction of Binary digit.

63

0

 
0

bit

Short for «Binary Digit». The smallest piece if binary digital data and is represented by either a «1» or a «0». Numbers of bits are used in digital video as a representation of signal quality (i.e. an 8-bit signal can have 256 levels from black to white while a 10-bit signal can have 1024 levels).

64

0

 
0

bit

Binary digit. The basic unit of all digital communications. A bit is a «1» or «0» in a binary language.

65

0

 
0

bit

In information theory, a single bit

66

0

 
0

bit

A bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer can work with. Each bit is either a «1» or a «0». Often computers work with groups of bits rather than one bit at a time; [..]

67

0

 
0

bit

A stainless steel, rubber or aluminum bar, attached to the bridle, which fits in the horse’s mouth and is one of the means by which a jockey exerts guidance and control. The most common racing bi [..]

68

0

 
0

bit

The most basic unit of information on a computer. In accordance with binary code, each bit is designated as either a 1 or a 0; all other information stored on the computer is composed of combinations [..]

69

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information in a binary system, consisting of a “0” or a “1” (formed from Binary Digit).

70

0

 
0

bit

A single numeric character. Each bit of a binary number can either be 0 or 1. Physically, a memory cell within the computer and the smallest unit of information in a computer. The value of a bit represents a simple two-way choice, such as yes or no, on or off, positive or negative, something or nothing. The small unit of information (usually either [..]

71

0

 
0

bit

Unit of measurement used for computing and telecommunication purposes. See Byte.

72

0

 
0

bit

contraction of the term Binary Digit. The smallest unit of information a computer can process, representing one of two states (usually indicated by “1” or “0”).

73

0

 
0

bit

A hardened steel bar or plate that is shaped according to the operation to be performed and the material to be machined.

74

0

 
0

bit

A parallel or taper shank drill tool

75

0

 
0

bit

A bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer can work with. Each bit is either a one or a zero. Often computers work with chunks of bits rather than one bit at a time; the smallest chunk [..]

76

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit. The smallest unit of information represented by one of two states (usually 0 or 1). It is often denoted by a lower case ‘b’ as in Mbs (mega-bits per second). Or the amount of info [..]

77

0

 
0

bit

Short for binary digit. A number expressed in binary notation utilizes the digits 1 and 0, and these are called bits. Any number can be expressed with combinations of them.

78

0

 
0

bit

The smallest element of computerized data. A full text page in English is about 16,000 bits. (See also “Byte”)

79

0

 
0

bit

The base unit of information in computing. For our purposes, also the base unit of measuring network speeds. 1 bit is a single piece of information. Network speeds tend to be measured by bits per seco [..]

80

0

 
0

bit

One binary digit, in base 2. The basic unit for electronically stored or transmitted data. See also: Byte.

81

0

 
0

bit

Binary Digit. The basic units of computer data – either a one or a zero.

82

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of storage in a computer, this represents a single letter or character.

83

0

 
0

bit

A basic storage unit used in computers; a bit can only be one of two values ‘1’ or’0′.Data is stored in a computer as a combination of bits (eight together are referred to as a byte).

84

0

 
0

bit

(Binary DigIT)

85

0

 
0

bit

The unit of measure which represents a single character of data. The smallest unit of storage on a computer.

86

0

 
0

bit

In a computer, all digital data is made up of bits and bytes. When computers talk or write to each other, they represent all of the information in ‘ones and zeros’-known as binary codes (1’s and 0’s).

87

0

 
0

bit

A single piece of data. A bit has a numerical value of either «1» or «0».

88

0

 
0

bit

Short for binary digit. The smallest form of computer memory, a bit is either on or off (ie — 1 or 0). 8 bits form a byte.

89

0

 
0

bit

BIT (Binary digit). Modems send information in a serial stream of zeros and ones. Each of these zeros or ones is called a bit. Eight bits is enough to encode one ASCII (American Standard Code for Info [..]

90

0

 
0

bit

A binary unit.

91

0

 
0

bit

(Binary DigIT) — A single digit number in base-2, in other words, either a 1 or a zero. The smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second. See Also: Bandwidth

92

0

 
0

bit

the tiniest unit of data, represented by a 0 or 1

93

0

 
0

bit

A reduction in binary unit, a bit is a unit of information that is conveyed in either a 1 or a 0.

94

0

 
0

bit

Bits are the elements of digital data. All letters, documents, sound, images or other information held in digital format is stored and processed as a stream of ones and zeroes. Each individual 0 or 1 [..]

95

0

 
0

bit

A bit can either be on or off; one or zero. All computer data can ultimately be reduced to a series of bits. The term is also used as a (very rough) measure of sound quality, color quality, and even p [..]

96

0

 
0

bit

A single digit number in base-2. In other words, either a 1 or a 0. The smallest unit of computerized data.

97

0

 
0

bit

A single digit number in base-2, in other words, either a 1 or a zero. The smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second.

98

0

 
0

bit

This is the smallest unit of digital information with which computers operate.

99

0

 
0

bit

The smallest element of computer storage, a bit is a single digit in a binary number (0 or 1). A computer uses 8 bits to store one text character.

100

0

 
0

bit

Binary DigIT-a single-digit number in base-2; in other words, either a 1 or a 0; the smallest unit of computerized data. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second. See also: bandwidth, bps, byte, kilobyte, megabyte

101

0

 
0

bit

The smallest piece of digital information understood by computers.

102

0

 
0

bit

A contraction of binary digit, a bit is the smallest unit of information that a computer can hold. The speed at which bits are transmitted or bit rate is usually expressed as bits per second or bps. � [..]

103

0

 
0

bit

The basic unit of information in a computer. A bit is one binary digit, either a &quot;1&quot; or a &quot;0&quot;.

104

0

 
0

bit

(n) a small piece or quantity of something(n) a small fragment of something broken off from the whole(n) an indefinitely short time(n) an instance of some kind(n) piece of metal held in horse [..]

105

0

 
0

bit

A bit (binary digit) is the smallest unit of digital information. A bit can have only two values (0 or 1). Originally the name «bigit» was used. The term was probably introduced by a scienti [..]

106

0

 
0

bit

Stands for binary digit. A bit is either on or off and is represented by «1» or «0». A collection of bits are put together to form a byte.

107

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information in a computer, can either equal 0 or 1. Eight bits equal one byte.

108

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information in a computer, can either equal 0 or 1. Eight bits equal one byte.

109

0

 
0

bit

Á piece.

110

0

 
0

bit

To take the bit in (or between) his teeth. To be obstinately self-willed; to make up one’s mind not to yield. When a horse has a mind to run away, he catches the bit “between his tee [..]

111

0

 
0

bit

Money. The word is used in the West Indies for a half pistareen (fivepence). In Jamaica, a bit is worth sixpence, English; in America, 12 1/2 cents; in Ireland, tenpence.

112

0

 
0

bit

An acronym for BInary digiT. It is the basic unit of information in the computer world. A bit is a digit in binary form and carries one of two values, 0 or 1.

113

0

 
0

bit

A single on/off binary position. If the position is set to 1 the bit is «on.» If the position is off the bit would be set to 0. 8 bits make a byte. (Now that makes me hungry!)

114

0

 
0

bit

A numeric quantity with precisely two values, such as 0 and 1, false and true, up or down, and so forth. Key point: In many contexts, each additional bit means «twice as much». 8 extra [..]

115

0

 
0

bit

a binary digit, 0 or 1. Computers process all information digitally in the form of bits. Eight bits make a byte, 1,024 bytes make a kilobyte, 1,024 kilobytes make a megabyte, etc. See byte.

116

0

 
0

bit

A stainless steel, rubber or aluminum bar that is attached to the bridle, which fits in the horse’s mouth and is one of the means by which a jockey exerts guidance and control. The most common ra [..]

117

0

 
0

bit

A star or chisel pointed tip forged or screwed (detachable) to the end of a drill steel.

118

0

 
0

bit

      A single binary digit, can be either a 0 or 1.

119

0

 
0

bit

The smallest amount of information that can be transmitted. In binary digital transmission, a bit has one of two values: 0 or 1. A combination of bits can indicate an alp [..]

120

0

 
0

bit

Abbreviated with small «b». Binary Digit. The smallest unit of data in a computer.

121

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit for measuring data.

122

0

 
0

bit

In computer science, a single character of a language having just two characters, as either of the binary digits 0 or 1; a unit of information equivalent to the choice of either of two equally likely alternatives; a unit of information storage capacity, as of memory.

123

0

 
0

bit

 The smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit has a single binary value of either 0 or 1. There are eight bits in a byte.  

124

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of memory. The word comes from binary

125

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit. The values of a bit are either «0» or «1». Eight bits form a byte.

126

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit, the smallest piece of data a computer can manipulate.

127

0

 
0

bit

128

0

 
0

bit

A single unit of information. Often referred to as a 1 or 0 in the binary system and as an «on» or «off» state in computer operations.

129

0

 
0

bit

Bit is short for ‘binary’ digit — the smallest unit of data in digital systems; it can have a value of ‘1’ or ‘0’. A group of 8-bits compose what is referred to as a byte.

130

0

 
0

bit

A shortened name for binary digit 0 or 1. This is the smallest unit of digital information used by a computer or digital camera.

131

0

 
0

bit

Binary digit, the smallest unit of digital information a computer can work with.

132

0

 
0

bit

A contraction of &quot;binary digit&quot;, representing the number 1 or 0 in the base 2 number system that computers work with.

133

0

 
0

bit

Short for ‘binary digit’, a bit is the smallest piece of information that can be handled by a computer and has a value of 0 or 1.

134

0

 
0

bit

This is a Binary Digit and can either be one of two states — 0 or 1. Bitmap

135

0

 
0

bit

A unit of measurement indicating the information capacity of one binary digit.

136

0

 
0

bit

Abbreviation for binary digit; the smallest unit of information a computer can use. A bit is either one or zero (a high or low voltage state).

137

0

 
0

bit

Short for &quot;Binary Digit&quot;. The smallest piece if binary digital data and is represented by either a &quot;1&quot; or a &quot;0&quot;. Numbers of bits are used in digit [..]

138

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of storage used in computing; a digit in the binary numeral system it can be 1 or 0.

139

0

 
0

bit

A computing term referencing Binary digIT. A BIT is the smallest unit of data a computer can handle. BITs are represented by the binary number code (0 or 1).

140

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of digital information, eight bits is equal to one byte. An image can be described by the number of bits representing a single pixel. The more bits available, the greater range of color the image will have (i.e. 1-bit = monochrome; 8 bit= 256 colors or grayscale; 24 & 32 bit = even greater range).

141

0

 
0

bit

Metal bar on a bridle that goes in the horses mouth and is used to control the horse while riding.

142

0

 
0

bit

Built in Test

143

0

 
0

bit

A bit, short for binary digit, is defined as the most basic unit of data in telecommunications and computing. Each bit is represented by either a 1 or a 0 and this can be executed in various systems t [..]

144

0

 
0

bit

A single binary unit of information where the information is either a 1 or a 0 for notation. If you have 8-bits this is also referred to as a byte. If you have 16-bits this is also referred as two bytes or a word. However, some words can be 16, 32 or even 64-bits long.

145

0

 
0

bit

Cutting blade used in rodding (pipe clearing) operations. Cutting teeth on the auger head of a sewer boring tool.

146

0

 
0

bit

, (1) sb. The bit of a key is the part that is cut to pass the wards of the lock. (2) sb. to ‘come to the bit,’ is to come to the point; to arrive at the last stage of a bargain.

147

0

 
0

bit

An integer in the range from 0 to 1, inclusive. The smallest possible unit of information storage. An eighth of a byte or of a dollar. (The term «Pieces of Eight» comes from being able to split the old Spanish dollar into 8 bits, each of which still counted for money. That’s why a 25-cent piece today is still «two bits».)

148

0

 
0

bit

Elementary unit of information/data stored as a choice between two mutually exclusive possibilities, such as 1 or 0 in binary notation.

149

0

 
0

bit

Prison sentence

150

0

 
0

bit

A contraction of Binary Digit, abbreviation ‘b’. A digital (as opposed to analogue) computer recognises only two states in the smallest item of information available to it — typically represented as 0 and 1. This smallest available item of information is called a Bit. Because digital computers can only recognise two states, they ca [..]

151

0

 
0

bit

Abbreviation for binary digit. A bit is a unit of data that can have a value of 0 or 1. It is the smallest unit of data that can be stored in a computer.

152

0

 
0

bit

An integer in the range from 0 to 1, inclusive. The smallest possible unit of information storage. An eighth of a byte

153

0

 
0

bit

One binary digit. A bit can be either a 1 or 0, either on or off. This is the smallest piece of information in the PLC. Typically eight bits make a byte and 16 bits make a word. See also: Binary, Bina [..]

154

0

 
0

bit

Short for “Binary Digit.” All values in computer memory ultimately reduce to binary digits: values that are either zero or one. Groups of bits may be interpreted differently—as integers, floatin [..]

155

0

 
0

bit

A unit of information derived from a choice between two equally probable alternatives or ‘events’; such a unit stored electronically in a computer, e.g. 1 and 0.

156

0

 
0

bit

a unit of memory that can hold 0 or 1. An individual bit cannot be directly accessed in C++ (the unit of addressing is a byte), but a bit can be accessed through a bitfield or by using the bitwise [..]

157

0

 
0

bit

Built-In Test or Binary Digit

158

0

 
0

bit

When a defender falls for a fake, Example: “Ricky Manning bit on Deion Branch’s hitch and it was a big gainer for Branch.”

159

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit that can carry information in a computer — this is a base 2 number, equaling either 0 or 1.

160

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit. This is the smallest unit of information and is valued at either zero or one.

161

0

 
0

bit

A basic unit of computer information; abbreviation of binary digit.

162

0

 
0

bit

a unit of the binary code that consists of either a single &quot;1&quot; or &quot;O.&quot;

163

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of information (normally either a 0 or a 1) recognizable by a computer. A contraction of “binary digit”.

164

0

 
0

bit

a 1 or 0 used in binary code.

165

0

 
0

bit

A measurement of data that is the smallest unit of data. A bit is either the «1» or «0» component of the binary code. A collection of bits is put together to form a byte.

166

0

 
0

bit

A bit is the basic unit of information in computing. It can have only one of two values commonly represented as either a 0 or 1.The two values can be interpreted as any two-valued attribute (yes/no, on/off, etc).

167

0

 
0

bit

A binary digit, taking a value of either 0 or 1. Binary digits are a basic unit of information storage and communication in digital computing and digital .

168

0

 
0

bit

A drilling tool that cuts the hole. Bits are designed on two basic and different principles. The cable tool bit moves up and down to pulverize. The rotary bit revolves to grind.

169

0

 
0

bit

A sophisticated cutting tool used in drilling. Two types are used — rock bits (roller cone) and diamond bits. Roller cone bits are the most commonly used. High performance diamond bits are selected wh [..]

170

0

 
0

bit

  The tool attached to the lower end of the drillpipe; a heavy steel head equipped with various types of cutting or grinding teeth. Some are fixed; some turn on bearings. A hole in the bottom of the [..]

171

0

 
0

bit

  A bit used to start the borehole; a bit that is some variation of the fishtail or drag bit, one used in soft, unconsolidated, near-surface material.

172

0

 
0

bit

see drill bit.

173

0

 
0

bit

A bit is the drilling tool that bores or cuts into the earth. There are two basic types: the cable tool bit which moves up and down the hole, striking the bottom, chipping away the rock, and the rotar [..]

174

0

 
0

bit

The cutting or boring element used in drilling oil and gas wells. The bit consists of a cutting element and a circulating element. The circulating element permits the passage of drilling fluid and uti [..]

175

0

 
0

bit

The cutting or boring element used in drilling oil and gas wells. The bit consists of a cutting element and a circulating element. The circulating element allows the passage of drilling fluid and employs the hydraulic force of the fluid stream to improve drilling rates. In rotary drilling, several drill collars are joined to the bottom end of the d [..]

176

0

 
0

bit

A bit is a «binary digit,» that is, a single value that makes up a binary number. A bit can be either 1 or 0. See Binary.

177

0

 
0

bit

Bar in horse’s mouth which is used to guide or control horse.

178

0

 
0

bit

A joke or, more often, a series of related jokes. “His bit about jogging killed, but the doctor’s office bit was too long—it definitely needs some more polishing.”

179

0

 
0

bit

The smallest unit of digital information representing a single “0” or 1.

180

0

 
0

bit

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

(A horse hates having a bit put in its mouth.)

A rotary cutting tool fitted to a drill, used to bore holes. [..]

181

0

 
0

bit

bit eighth of a dollar

(mathematics,computing) bit binary digit

(computing) bit smallest unit of storage

(information theory,cryptography) bit datum that may take on one of exactly two values
[..]

182

0

 
0

bit

contraction of the expression “binary digit”; smallest unit of data in a computer

183

0

 
0

bit

The bit (a portmanteau of binary digit) is a basic unit of information used in computing and digital communications. A binary digit can have only one of two values, and may be physically represented w [..]

184

0

 
0

bit

A bit is a unit of information storage on a computer.
Bit or BIT may also refer to:

185

0

 
0

bit

The word bit is a colloquial expression referring to specific coins in various coinages throughout the world.

186

0

 
0

bit

The bit of a key is the part that actually engages the locking mechanism of a lock. (For example the tumblers in a pin tumbler lock.)
The exact geometry of modern keys is usually described by a code s [..]

187

0

 
0

bit

BIT was an information service, publisher, travel guide and social centre founded, in 1968, by John «Hoppy» Hopkins. It pre-dated the internet as a free service that would try to find any in [..]

188

0

 
0

bit

A bit is a type of horse tack used in equestrian activities, usually made of metal or a synthetic material, and is placed in the mouth of a horse or other equid and assists a rider in communicating wi [..]

189

0

 
1

bit

– The smallest unit of memory storage.

190

0

 
1

bit

The smallest unit of information in a computer, with a value of either 0 or 1.

191

0

 
1

bit

Binary digit, the smallest unit of digital information a computer can work with.

192

0

 
1

bit

Abbreviation for “binary digit,” the most common unit computers use for representing data internally.

Dictionary.university is a dictionary written by people like you and me.
Please help and add a word. All sort of words are welcome!

Add meaning

Britannica Dictionary definition of BIT

[count]

:

a small piece of something

  • Put all the broken bits back together.

often + of

  • He ate every last/single bit of the food. [=he ate all of the food]

  • He ate only a couple of tiny little bits of bread and cheese and drank a drop or two of wine.

  • We need to get all the bits of dirt out of the carpet.

  • There were broken bits of glass all over the floor.




see also bits and pieces (below)

[count]

chiefly British

:

a part of something (such as a book, play, etc.)

  • There are some good bits [=parts] near the end of the story: one is the bit where the hero and the heroine are nearly separated.

chiefly US

:

a brief comic performance or joke

  • The comedian did a funny bit about taking his daughter to the dentist.

  • a corny comedy bit

:

a very short performance in a movie, play, etc.

usually used before another noun

  • a bit part/role

  • bit players

[singular]

informal

:

all the things that are connected to an activity, a process, etc.

  • He says he’s tired of his job, tired of driving to work every day, the whole bit. [=everything]

[count]

British

:

an old coin with a specified small value

  • a threepenny bit




see also two bits

a bit

:

a little

:

somewhat or rather

  • I let it bother me a bit. [=slightly]

  • His house is down the street a bit further.

  • There’s a bit too much sugar in the dessert, which makes it a bit too sweet.

  • I’m feeling a bit better today.

  • It’s a bit like driving a car.

  • This one is a bit bigger than that one.

  • At first, I was a bit confused.

:

a small amount or quantity

:

a little of something

  • They don’t understand much—but they do understand a bit.

  • They saved money a bit at a time.

  • “How much cake is left?” “Only a (very little) bit.”

  • “How old is your daughter?” “She’s two and a bit.” [=she’s slightly older than two]

often + of

  • They understand only a bit of [=a little of] what is going on.

  • There’s a bit of both brown sugar and molasses in these cookies.

  • The job may cause you a bit of trouble.

  • His mind’s already made up. It won’t do you a bit of good to argue. [=it won’t do you any good to argue]

:

a short period of time

:

a while

  • Let’s wait a (little/wee) bit longer.

  • Repairs will begin in a bit more than a month.

  • He left but came back after a bit. [=he came back soon]

:

for a short period of time

  • Please stay here with me a bit.

used to describe a person or thing that is regarded as annoying, excessive, or unfair

  • My mother thinks he’s funny, but I find him a bit much.

  • I find his constant joking a bit much.

  • It was a bit much to expect us to wait that long.

  • The hot weather is getting to be a bit much.

a bit of a/an

chiefly British

used to make a statement or description less forceful or definite

  • I had a bit of a shock when I saw him. [=I was somewhat shocked when I saw him]

  • He’s a bit of a rascal. [=he’s something of a rascal]

  • We had a bit of a laugh about it afterwards.

a bit of all right

British, informal

:

someone or something very pleasing

especially

:

a sexually attractive person

  • His girlfriend’s a bit of all right.

bit by bit

:

by small steps or amounts

:


gradually

  • The situation improved bit by bit. [=little by little]

  • I got to know them bit by bit.

bits and pieces

:

small pieces

  • There were broken bits and pieces of glass all over the floor.

  • I finished the project in bits and pieces [=a little at a time] during my spare time.

or British

bits and bobs

:

things or objects of different kinds

  • There are just a few bits and pieces of furniture in the office.

  • No one knows exactly what happened. All we have is a few bits and pieces [=odds and ends] of information so far.

do your bit

chiefly British

:

to do your share of a job or task

  • We all have to do our bit [=do our part] to help out.

every bit

:

in every way

  • The end of the movie was every bit [=just] as good as the beginning.

  • This new project seems every bit as ambitious as the first one.

  • He is every bit the high-powered businessman.

  • You are every bit as deserving as she is.

not a/one bit

or

not (in) the least/smallest/slightest/tiniest bit

:

not at all

  • It didn’t interest me a bit. = It didn’t interest me one (single/little) bit.

  • I’m not a bit interested in this movie. = I’m not the least bit interested in this movie.

  • That joke was not a/one bit funny. [=was not funny at all]

  • We weren’t a bit tired. [=we weren’t tired at all]

not a bit of it

British, informal

used to say that something expected or possible did not happen or is not true

  • Am I tired? Not a bit of it. [=I am not tired at all]

  • I thought she’d be angry, but not a bit of it. [=she wasn’t angry at all]

quite a bit

or chiefly British

a good/fair bit

:

a fairly large amount

:

a lot

  • He knows quite a bit [=quite a lot] more about it than I do.

  • The wait was quite a bit [=considerably] longer than I thought it would be.

  • She lost the race by quite a bit.

  • We’ve been seeing quite a bit of each other lately. [=we’ve been spending a lot of time together lately]

  • She’d already finished a good bit of the work before I returned.

  • There’s still a fair bit (of the cake) left.

take a bit of doing




see doing

to bits

:

to pieces

:


apart

  • The ball hit the window and smashed it to bits.

  • The bridge was blown to bits by the explosion.

  • (chiefly Brit) The pie was falling to bits [=falling apart] as I tried to serve it.

informal

:

to a very great degree

  • She was thrilled to bits. [=she was very thrilled]

Britannica Dictionary definition of BIT

[count]

:

the part of a tool (such as a drill) that is used for cutting, drilling, etc.




see picture at carpentry

:

a piece of metal that is put in the mouth of a horse and that is part of the device (called a bridle) that is used to control the horse




see picture at horse

champing/chomping at the bit

:

waiting in an impatient way to do something

  • We’ve all been champing at the bit to get started on the project.

get/take the bit between your teeth

:

to start doing something in a very enthusiastic and determined way

  • He can be lazy about doing his work, but when he gets the bit between his teeth there’s no stopping him.

Britannica Dictionary definition of BIT

:

a single unit of computer information that is represented as either 1 or 0




compare byte;


see also megabit


4
bit

Britannica Dictionary definition of BIT

Other forms: bits

Let me give you a bit of advice: Use bit when you’re talking about a small amount.

Bit is a small but useful word. Like drill bits, which fit on the end of a drill to change its function, the word bit has several uses. Usually, it means a little piece of something, even time. If you ask me when I’m arriving, I might say, «In a little bit.» A bit can also be a short theatrical entertainment, the metal piece a horse bites on, or digital information that’s 1/8 the size of a byte.

Definitions of bit

  1. noun

    a small piece or quantity of something

    “a
    bit of paper”

    “a
    bit of lint”

    “I gave him a
    bit of my mind”

    synonyms:

    spot

  2. noun

    a small fragment of something broken off from the whole

    “a
    bit of rock caught him in the eye”

    synonyms:

    chip, flake, fleck, scrap

  3. noun

    a small amount of solid food; a mouthful

    “all they had left was a
    bit of bread”

    synonyms:

    bite, morsel

  4. noun

    an indefinitely short time

    “in just a
    bit

    synonyms:

    minute, mo, moment, second

  5. noun

    an instance of some kind

    “he had a
    bit of good luck”

    synonyms:

    piece

  6. noun

    a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program

  7. noun

    piece of metal held in horse’s mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding

    “the horse was not accustomed to a
    bit

  8. noun

    the part of a key that enters a lock and lifts the tumblers

  9. noun

    the cutting part of a drill; usually pointed and threaded and is replaceable in a brace or bitstock or drill press

    “he looked around for the right size
    bit

  10. noun

    a unit of measurement of information (from binary + digit); the amount of information in a system having two equiprobable states

    “there are 8
    bits in a byte”

    see moresee less

    types:

    check bit, parity, parity bit

    (computer science) a bit that is used in an error detection procedure in which a 0 or 1 is added to each group of bits so that it will have either an odd number of 1’s or an even number of 1’s; e.g., if the parity is odd then any group of bits that arrives with an even number of 1’s must contain an error

    type of:

    unit, unit of measurement

    any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘bit’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Look up bit for the last time

Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the
words you need to know.

VocabTrainer - Vocabulary.com's Vocabulary Trainer

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

Get started

бит, долото, кусочек, кусок, укушенный, взнуздать, взнуздывать

существительное

- кусок; кусочек

small bits of sugar — кусочки сахара
small bits of plaster — куски штукатурки
every bit of — всё
he ate all the cake bit by bit — он по кусочку съел весь пирог
to go /to come/ to bits — разбиться на мелкие кусочки

- частица, доля

give me a bit — дай мне немного /часть/

- (a bit) небольшое количество, немного, чуть-чуть

a bit at a time — понемногу, не спеша, постепенно
wait a bit — подожди немного
I am a bit tired — я немного устал
he is a bit late — он слегка опоздал
not a bit — нисколько, ничуть
he is not a bit tired — он совсем не устал
he is a bit of a coward — он трусоват

- разг. мелкая монета

threepenny bit — монета в три пенса
short bit — амер. монета в 10 центов
long bit — амер. монета в 15 центов
two bits — амер. монета в 25 центов

- амер. сл. срок заключения

ещё 15 вариантов

глагол

- взнуздывать
- обуздывать, сдерживать

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

comedy bit — комический номер  
to give smb. a bit of one’s mind — высказаться напрямик, откровенно  
to have a bit of a do — устроить небольшую вечеринку  
a bit / stroke of luck — удача  
to take / eat a bit of mutton with smb. — обедать с кем-л.  
quite a bit / few / lot — значительное количество  
a bit rusty English — немного запущенный английский  
storage bit — бит памяти  
chopping drill bit — буровое долото ударного бурения  
six-point drill bit — шестиугольное буровое долото  

Примеры с переводом

That’s a bit odd.

Это немного странно.

I feel a bit better now.

Сейчас я чувствую себя немного лучше.

You’ll have to wait a bit.

Вам придётся немного подождать.

He knows quite a bit about painting.

Он довольно мало знает о живописи. / Он не много знает о живописи.

We sat around for a bit chatting.

Мы немного посидели и поболтали.

She’s quite a bit older than you, isn’t she?

Она немного старше вас, не так ли?

They’re worth quite a bit more than I thought.

Они стоят немного больше, чем я думал.

ещё 23 примера свернуть

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

I used to act a bit when I was younger.

He still likes to do a bit of gardening.

‘Are you sorry to be leaving?’ ‘Yes, I am a bit.’

Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке , напротив примера.

Возможные однокоренные слова

biter  — кусающееся животное, тот, кто кусает
biting  — кусающий, резкий, едкий, хлесткий, кусачий, острый, грызущий, язвительный
bitten  — укушенный, покусанный, искусанный
bitter  — горький, ожесточенный, горько, жестоко, резко, очень, горечь, горькое пиво
bittern  — выпь, маточный раствор, рапа
bitty  — разношерстный, бессвязный, разрозненный, бессистемный

Формы слова

noun
ед. ч.(singular): bit
мн. ч.(plural): bits

bit 1

 (bĭt)

n.

1. A small portion, degree, or amount: a bit of lint; a bit of luck.

2. A brief amount of time; a moment: Wait a bit.

3.

a. A short scene or episode in a theatrical performance.

b. A bit part.

4. An entertainment routine given regularly by a performer; an act.

5. Informal

a. A particular kind of action, situation, or behavior: got tired of the macho bit.

b. A matter being considered: What’s this bit about inflation?

6. Informal An amount equal to one eighth of a dollar: two bits.

7. Chiefly British A small coin: a threepenny bit.

Idioms:

a bit

To a small degree; somewhat: a bit warm.

bit by bit

Little by little; gradually.

do (one’s) bit

To do one’s part or contribute one’s share.



bit 2

 (bĭt)

n.

1. The sharp part of a tool, such as the cutting edge of a knife or axe.

2. A pointed and threaded tool for drilling and boring that is secured in a brace, bitstock, or drill press.

3. The part of a key that enters the lock and engages the bolt and tumblers.

4. The tip of the mouthpiece on a pipe or a cigarette or cigar holder.

5. The metal mouthpiece of a bridle, serving to control, curb, and direct an animal.

6. Something that controls, guides, or curbs.

tr.v. bit·ted, bit·ting, bits

1. To place a bit in the mouth of (a horse, for example).

2. To check or control with or as if with a bit.

3. To make or grind a bit on (a key).

Idiom:

have/take the bit in one’s teeth

To be uncontrollable; cast off restraint.



bit 3

 (bĭt)

n. Computers

A binary digit, having either the value 0 or 1, used to store or represent data.



bit 4

 (bĭt)

v.

Past tense and a past participle of bite.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bit

(bɪt)

n

1. a small piece, portion, or quantity

2. a short time or distance

3. informal US and Canadian the value of an eighth of a dollar: spoken of only in units of two: two bits.

4. any small coin

6. informal way of behaving, esp one intended to create a particular impression: she’s doing the prima donna bit.

7. a bit rather; somewhat: a bit dreary.

8. a bit of

a. rather: a bit of a dope.

b. a considerable amount: that must take quite a bit of courage.

9. a bit of all right a bit of crumpet a bit of stuff a bit of tail slang Brit a sexually attractive woman

10. bit by bit gradually

11. bit on the side informal an extramarital affair

12. do one’s bit to make one’s expected contribution

13. every bit (foll by as) to the same degree: she was every bit as clever as her brother.

14. not a bit not a bit of it not in the slightest; not at all

15. to bits completely apart: to fall to bits.

[Old English bite action of biting; see bite]


bit

(bɪt)

n

1. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) a metal mouthpiece, for controlling a horse on a bridle

2. anything that restrains or curbs

3. take the bit in one’s teeth take the bit between one’s teeth have the bit in one’s teeth have the bit between one’s teeth

a. to undertake a task with determination

b. to rebel against control

4. (Mechanical Engineering) a cutting or drilling tool, part, or head in a brace, drill, etc

5. (Mechanical Engineering) the blade of a woodworking plane

6. (Tools) the part of a pair of pincers designed to grasp an object

7. (General Engineering) the copper end of a soldering iron

8. (Tools) the part of a key that engages the levers of a lock

vb (tr) , bits, bitting or bitted

9. (Horse Training, Riding & Manège) to put a bit in the mouth of (a horse)

10. to restrain; curb

[Old English bita; related to Old English bītan to bite]


bit

(bɪt)

vb

the past tense and (archaic) past participle of bite


bit

(bɪt)

n

1. (Mathematics) a single digit of binary notation, represented either by 0 or by 1

2. (Mathematics) the smallest unit of information, indicating the presence or absence of a single feature

3. (Mathematics) a unit of capacity of a computer, consisting of an element of its physical structure capable of being in either of two states, such as a switch with on and off positions, or a microscopic magnet capable of alignment in two directions

[C20: from abbreviation of binary digit]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bit1

(bɪt)

n., v. bit•ted, bit•ting. n.

1. the mouthpiece of a bridle, having fittings at each end to which the reins are fastened.

2. anything that curbs or restrains.

3. a removable drilling or boring tool for use in a brace, drill press, or the like.

4. the cutting part of an ax or hatchet.

5. the wide portion at the end of an ordinary key that moves the bolt.

v.t.

6. to put a bit in the mouth of (a horse).

7. to curb with or as if with a bit.

8. to grind a bit on (a key).

Idioms:

1. chafe or champ at the bit, to become impatient and restless because of delay.

2. take the bit in or between one’s teeth, to reject control; go one’s own way.

[before 900; Middle English bite, Old English: action of biting; c. Old High German biz. See bite]

bit2

(bɪt)

n.

1. a small piece or quantity of something.

2. a short time: Wait a bit.

3. a stereotypic set of behaviors, attitudes, or actions associated with a particular role, situation, etc.: the whole Wall Street bit.

5. Informal. an amount equivalent to 12½ cents (used only in even multiples): two bits.

Idioms:

1. a bit, somewhat; a little: a bit sleepy.

2. a bit much, somewhat overdone or beyond tolerability.

3. bit by bit, by degrees; gradually.

4. do one’s bit, to contribute one’s share to an effort.

5. every bit, quite; just: every bit as good.

6. quite a bit, a fairly large amount.

[before 1000; Middle English bite, Old English bita bit, morsel; c. Old High German bizzo, Old Norse biti. See bite]

bit3

(bɪt)

n.

a single, basic unit of computer information, valued at either 0 or 1 to signal binary alternatives.

[1945–50; bi (nary) + (digi) t]

bit4

(bɪt)

v.

pt. and a pp. of bite.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

bit

(bĭt)

The smallest unit of computer memory. A bit holds one of two possible values, either of the binary digits 0 or 1. See Note at byte.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bit

1. ‘bit’

A bit is a small amount or a small part of something.

There’s a bit of cake left.

He found a few bits of wood in the garage.

2. ‘a bit’

A bit means ‘to a small degree’.

She looks a bit like her mother.

He was a bit deaf.

Be Careful!
Don’t use ‘a bit’ with an adjective in front of a noun. Don’t say, for example, ‘He was a bit deaf man‘.

3. ‘a bit of’

In conversation and in less formal writing, you can use a bit of in front of a and a noun. You do this to make a statement seem less extreme.

Our room was a bit of a mess too.

His question came as a bit of a shock.

4. ‘a bit’ and ‘one bit’ with negatives

You can add a bit or one bit at the end of a negative statement to make it stronger.

I don’t like this one bit.

She hadn’t changed a bit.

5. ‘not a bit’

You can use not a bit in front of an adjective to emphasize that someone or something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you say you are not a bit hungry, you mean you are not hungry at all.

They’re not a bit interested.

I wasn’t a bit surprised by the news.

6. ‘for a bit’

For a bit means ‘for a short period of time’.

She was silent for a bit.

Why can’t we stay here for a bit?

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

bit

Past participle: bitted
Gerund: bitting

Imperative
bit
bit
Present
I bit
you bit
he/she/it bits
we bit
you bit
they bit
Preterite
I bitted
you bitted
he/she/it bitted
we bitted
you bitted
they bitted
Present Continuous
I am bitting
you are bitting
he/she/it is bitting
we are bitting
you are bitting
they are bitting
Present Perfect
I have bitted
you have bitted
he/she/it has bitted
we have bitted
you have bitted
they have bitted
Past Continuous
I was bitting
you were bitting
he/she/it was bitting
we were bitting
you were bitting
they were bitting
Past Perfect
I had bitted
you had bitted
he/she/it had bitted
we had bitted
you had bitted
they had bitted
Future
I will bit
you will bit
he/she/it will bit
we will bit
you will bit
they will bit
Future Perfect
I will have bitted
you will have bitted
he/she/it will have bitted
we will have bitted
you will have bitted
they will have bitted
Future Continuous
I will be bitting
you will be bitting
he/she/it will be bitting
we will be bitting
you will be bitting
they will be bitting
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been bitting
you have been bitting
he/she/it has been bitting
we have been bitting
you have been bitting
they have been bitting
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been bitting
you will have been bitting
he/she/it will have been bitting
we will have been bitting
you will have been bitting
they will have been bitting
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been bitting
you had been bitting
he/she/it had been bitting
we had been bitting
you had been bitting
they had been bitting
Conditional
I would bit
you would bit
he/she/it would bit
we would bit
you would bit
they would bit
Past Conditional
I would have bitted
you would have bitted
he/she/it would have bitted
we would have bitted
you would have bitted
they would have bitted

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

bit

Short for binary digit, either 1 or 0.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Bridle bit

A steel rod inserted in a horse’s mouth and held in place by the rest of the bridle. Horses are guided by means of reins (lines) attached to each side of the bit. While oxen could be guided from a ring in their nose, horses apparently did not respond well to that approach, and almost as soon as evidence of domestic horses first appeared in a region, the bit also appeared. Bits for riding bridles have always tended to be quite elaborate, but some of the basic workhorse bits looked just like those in the British Museum dating back almost a thousand years.

1001 Words and Phrases You Never Knew You Didn’t Know by W.R. Runyan Copyright © 2011 by W.R. Runyan

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun 1. bit - a small piece or quantity of somethingbit — a small piece or quantity of something; «a spot of tea»; «a bit of paper»; «a bit of lint»; «I gave him a bit of my mind»

spot

small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity — an indefinite quantity that is below average size or magnitude

2. bit - a small fragment of something broken off from the wholebit — a small fragment of something broken off from the whole; «a bit of rock caught him in the eye»

chip, fleck, scrap, flake

fragment — a piece broken off or cut off of something else; «a fragment of rock»

matchwood — fragments of wood; «it was smashed into matchwood»

exfoliation, scurf, scale — a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin

scurf — (botany) a covering that resembles scales or bran that covers some plant parts

sliver, splinter — a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal; «he got a splinter in his finger»; «it broke into slivers»

3. bit - an indefinitely short timebit — an indefinitely short time; «wait just a moment»; «in a mo»; «it only takes a minute»; «in just a bit»

mo, moment, second, minute

time — an indefinite period (usually marked by specific attributes or activities); «he waited a long time»; «the time of year for planting»; «he was a great actor in his time»

instant, jiffy, New York minute, split second, trice, twinkling, wink, blink of an eye, heartbeat, flash — a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat); «if I had the chance I’d do it in a flash»

4. bit — an instance of some kind; «it was a nice piece of work»; «he had a bit of good luck»

piece

case, instance, example — an occurrence of something; «it was a case of bad judgment»; «another instance occurred yesterday»; «but there is always the famous example of the Smiths»

5. bit - piece of metal held in horse's mouth by reins and used to control the horse while ridingbit — piece of metal held in horse’s mouth by reins and used to control the horse while riding; «the horse was not accustomed to a bit»

bar bit — a bit for horses that is a solid bar of metal

bridle — headgear for a horse; includes a headstall and bit and reins to give the rider or driver control

bridoon — a bit resembling a snaffle bit; used with a separate curb

curb bit, curb — a horse’s bit with an attached chain or strap to check the horse

Pelham — a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle

snaffle, snaffle bit — a simple jointed bit for a horse; without a curb

saddlery, stable gear, tack — gear for a horse

6. bit — a unit of measurement of information (from binary + digit); the amount of information in a system having two equiprobable states; «there are 8 bits in a byte»

unit, unit of measurement — any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange; «the dollar is the United States unit of currency»; «a unit of wheat is a bushel»; «change per unit volume»

check bit, parity bit, parity — (computer science) a bit that is used in an error detection procedure in which a 0 or 1 is added to each group of bits so that it will have either an odd number of 1’s or an even number of 1’s; e.g., if the parity is odd then any group of bits that arrives with an even number of 1’s must contain an error

byte — a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information

7. bit - a small amount of solid foodbit — a small amount of solid food; a mouthful; «all they had left was a bit of bread»

bite, morsel

mouthful, taste — a small amount eaten or drunk; «take a taste—you’ll like it»

chaw, chew, cud, plug, quid, wad — a wad of something chewable as tobacco

crumb — small piece of e.g. bread or cake

sop, sops — piece of solid food for dipping in a liquid

8. bit — a small fragment; «overheard snatches of their conversation»

snatch

fragment — an incomplete piece; «fragments of a play»

9. bit - a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer programbit — a short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program; «he did his act three times every evening»; «she had a catchy little routine»; «it was one of the best numbers he ever did»

routine, number, act, turn

performance, public presentation — a dramatic or musical entertainment; «they listened to ten different performances»; «the play ran for 100 performances»; «the frequent performances of the symphony testify to its popularity»

showstopper, show-stopper, stopper — an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down

10. bit - the part of a key that enters a lock and lifts the tumblersbit — the part of a key that enters a lock and lifts the tumblers

key — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock’s mechanism can be rotated

part, portion — something less than the whole of a human artifact; «the rear part of the house»; «glue the two parts together»

11. bit - the cutting part of a drillbit — the cutting part of a drill; usually pointed and threaded and is replaceable in a brace or bitstock or drill press; «he looked around for the right size bit»

bur, burr — small bit used in dentistry or surgery

center bit, centre bit — a bit with a sharp center point for guidance and two side cutters

chamfer bit — a bit that is used for beveling

counterbore, countersink bit, countersink — a bit for enlarging the upper part of a hole

cutting implement — a tool used for cutting or slicing

drill — a tool with a sharp point and cutting edges for making holes in hard materials (usually rotating rapidly or by repeated blows)

drill bit, drilling bit — a bit used in drilling for oil

expansion bit, expansive bit — a bit with a cutting blade that can be adjusted to different sizes

pilot bit — a small bit that drills a first hole to guide a larger drill

shank — cylinder forming the part of a bit by which it is held in the drill

spade bit — a thin bit with a center point and cutting edges on either side

twist bit, twist drill — a bit or drill having deep helical grooves

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

bit

1


bit

2

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

bit 1

noun

1. A tiny amount:

crumb, dab, dash, dot, dram, drop, fragment, grain, iota, jot, minim, mite, modicum, molecule, ort, ounce, particle, scrap, scruple, shred, smidgen, speck, tittle, trifle, whit.

Chiefly British: spot.

2. A small portion of food:

3. A usually brief detail of news or information:

4. A rather short period:

5. Informal. A particular kind of activity:


bit 2

noun

An instrument or means of restraining:

verb

To control, restrict, or arrest:

brake, bridle, check, constrain, curb, hold, hold back, hold down, hold in, inhibit, keep, keep back, pull in, rein (back, in, or up), restrain.

The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

بت: أصغر وِحْدَةٌ في الذّاكِرَهجُزْءٌ أو قِطْعَطةٌ صَغيرَهجُزْء صَغِيرشَكيمَةُ اللِّجامفَقْرَةٌ قَصيرَه

kousekbitchvilkamalýtrocha

smulestykkebidbidselbit

palanenbittipala

komadić

bitill, mélbrotögn, svolítiîstundarkorn

小片

작은 조각

bitas

bitsdrusciņadruskugabaliņšlaužņi

bitzubadlo

koščekmalopostopoma

bitstycke

เล็กๆ น้อยๆ

miếng

Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

bit

[ˈbɪt]

n

(= small piece) [bread, cheese, cake] → morceau m; [paper, string] → bout m
Would you like another bit? → Est-ce que tu en veux un autre morceau?
a bit of cake → un morceau de gâteau
to come to bits, to fall to bits (= break) → tomber en morceaux
to take sth to bits → démonter qch
to do one’s bit → y mettre du sien

quite a bit of (= quite a lot of) → pas mal de

bits and pieces, bits and bobs (= things) → trucs mpl
bits and pieces of (= small amounts of)
I did bits and pieces of translation work → J’ai fait un peu de traduction.

not a bit (mainly British) (= not at all) [surprised, disappointed] → pas du tout
not a bit of it! (British)pas le moins du monde!

a bit, for a bit > (= British, for some time) → un certain temps
Let’s wait a bit
BUT Attendons un peu.

(= part) [programme, lesson] → partie f

[horse] → mors m
to get the bit between one’s teeth, to take the bit between one’s teeth → prendre le mors aux dents
to champ at the bit, to chomp at the bit → ronger son frein

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

bit

:

bitmap

n (Comput)

no pl (= mode)Bitmap nt

(also bitmapped image)Bitmap-Abbildung f

bitmapped

adj (Comput) → Bitmap-, bit-mapped pred; bit graphicsBitmapgrafik f


bit

1

n

(of key)(Schlüssel)bart m


bit

2

n

(= piece)Stück nt; (smaller) → Stückchen nt; (of glass also)Scherbe f; (= section: of book, film, symphony) → Teil m; (part or place in book, drama, text, symphony etc) → Stelle f; a few bits of furnitureein paar Möbelstücke; a bit of breadein Stück Brot; I gave my bit to my sisterich habe meiner Schwester meinen Teil gegeben; this is the bit I hate, he said, taking out his walletdas tue ich gar nicht gern, sagte er und zückte seine Brieftasche; a bit (= not much, small amount)ein bisschen, etwas; would you like a bit of ice cream?möchten Sie etwas or ein bisschen Eis?; there’s a bit of truth in what he saysdaran ist schon etwas Wahres; a bit of advice/luck/newsein Rat m/ein Glück nt/eine Neuigkeit; we had a bit of trouble/excitementwir hatten ein wenig Ärger/Aufregung; I only read a bit of the novelich habe nur ein bisschen or Stückchen von dem Roman gelesen; don’t you feel the slightest bit of remorse?hast du denn nicht die geringsten Gewissensbisse?; it did me a bit of gooddas hat mir geholfen; it might be a bit of helpdas könnte eine kleine Hilfe sein; it wasn’t a bit of helpdas war überhaupt keine Hilfe; I’ve experienced quite a bit in my lifeich habe in meinem Leben schon (so) einiges erlebt; there’s quite a bit of work left to do/bread leftes ist noch eine ganze Menge Arbeit zu erledigen/Brot da; in bits and pieces (= broken)in tausend Stücken; (lit, fig: = come apart) → in die Brüche gegangen; to do the work in bits and piecesdie Arbeit stückchenweise machen; the bits and piecesdie einzelnen Teile; (= broken bits)die Scherben pl; bring all your bits and piecesbring deine Siebensachen; to pick up the bits and pieces (fig)retten, was zu retten ist; to come or fall to bitskaputtgehen, aus dem Leim gehen; to pull or tear something to bits (lit)etw in (tausend) Stücke reißen; (fig)keinen guten Faden an etw (dat)lassen; to go to bits (fig inf)durchdrehen (inf) ? bob3 N e

to do one’s bitsein(en) Teil tun; (= fair share also)das seine or Seine tun; look, you’re not doing your bithör mal zu, du setzt dich nicht genügend ein

a bit of a crack/bruise etcein kleiner Riss/Fleck etc; he’s a bit of a rogue/an experter ist ein ziemlicher Schlingel/ein Fachmann; he’s a bit of a musicianer ist gar kein schlechter Musiker; she’s a bit of a connoisseursie versteht einiges davon; you’re a bit of an idiot, aren’t you?du bist ganz schön dumm; he’s got a bit of a nerve!der hat vielleicht Nerven!; it’s a bit of a nuisancedas ist schon etwas ärgerlich; now that’s a bit of an improvementdas ist schon besser

(= coin) (Brit) → Münze f; 2/4/6 bits (US) → 25/50/75 Cent(s)

(Brit, inf) → Tussi f (sl)


bit

3

n (Comput) → Bit nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

bit

1 [bɪt] n

c. (considerable sum) a good bit
quite a bit → un bel po’

d. (Am) (coin) → ottavo di dollaro


bit

2 [bɪt] n (tool) → punta; (of horse) → morso


bit

4 [bɪt] n (Comput) → bit m inv

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

bit1

(bit) noun

1. a small piece. a bit of bread.

2. a piece of any size. a bit of advice.

3. a short time. Wait a bit longer.

4. (computers) the smallest unit of memory.

ˈbitty (informal) adjective

made up of small, unrelated pieces. We had a very bitty conversation; His essay was rather bitty.

bit by bit

gradually. Move the pile of rocks bit by bit.

do one’s bit

to take one’s share in a task. Each of us will have to do his bit if we are to finish the job soon.

in, to bits

in(to) usually small pieces. The broken mirror lay in bits on the floor; He loves taking his car to bits.


bit3

(bit) noun

the part of a bridle which a horse holds in its mouth.

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

bit

جُزْء صَغِير kousek smule Stückchen τεμάχιο pedazo palanen morceau komadić pezzo 小片 작은 조각 beetje stykke kawałek pedaço кусочек stycke เล็กๆ น้อยๆ parça miếng 小块

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

  • It’s a little too hot (US)
    It’s a bit too hot (UK)

Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

Like this post? Please share to your friends:
  • The meaning of the word fox about a cunning person is
  • The meaning of the word associate
  • The meaning of the word force
  • The meaning of the word assistant
  • The meaning of the word follow up