bite

to sting, as does an insect.

to cause to smart or sting: an icy wind that bit our faces.

to sever with the teeth (often followed by off): Don't bite your nails. The child bit off a large piece of the candy bar.

to start to eat (often followed by into): She bit into her steak.

to clamp the teeth firmly on or around (often followed by on): He bit hard on the stick while they removed the bullet from his leg.

Informal.

to eat into or corrode, as does an acid.

to cut or pierce with, or as with, a weapon: The sword split his helmet and bit him fatally.

Etching. to etch with acid (a copper or other surface) in such parts as are left bare of a protective coating.

to take firm hold or act effectively on: We need a clamp to bite the wood while the glue dries.

Archaic. to make a decided impression on; affect.

to accept an offer or suggestion, especially one intended to trick or deceive: I knew it was a mistake, but I bit anyway.

Informal. to admit defeat in guessing: I'll bite, who is it?

to act effectively; grip; hold: This wood is so dry the screws don't bite.

Slang. to be notably repellent, disappointing, poor, etc.; suck.

a cutting, stinging, or nipping effect: the bite of an icy wind; the bite of whiskey on the tongue.

a piece bitten off: Chew each bite carefully.

a small meal: Let's have a bite before the theater.

a portion severed from the whole: the government's weekly bite of my paycheck.

a morsel of food: not a bite to eat.

the occlusion of one's teeth: The dentist said I had a good bite.

Machinery.

sharpness; incisiveness; effectiveness: The bite of his story is spoiled by his slovenly style.

the roughness of the surface of a file.

Metalworking. the maximum angle, measured from the center of a roll in a rolling mill, between a perpendicular and a line to the point of contact where a given object to be rolled will enter between the rolls.

(tr) to cut or penetrate, as with a knife

(of corrosive material such as acid) to eat away or into

to smart or cause to smart; sting: mustard bites the tongue

(intr) angling (of a fish) to take or attempt to take the bait or lure

to take firm hold of or act effectively upon

to grip or hold (a workpiece) with a tool or chuck

(of a screw, thread, etc) to cut into or grip (an object, material, etc)

(tr) informal to annoy or worry: what's biting her?

(often passive) slang to cheat

(tr often foll by for) Australian and NZ slang to ask (for); scrounge from

bite off more than one can chew informal to attempt a task beyond one's capability

bite the bullet to face up to (pain, trouble, etc) with fortitude; be stoical

bite someone's head off to respond harshly and rudely (to)

bite the dust See dust (def. 11)

bite the hand that feeds one to repay kindness with injury or ingratitude

once bitten, twice shy after an unpleasant experience one is cautious in similar situations

put the bite on someone Australian slang to ask someone for money

a wound, bruise, or sting inflicted by biting

angling an attempt by a fish to take the bait or lure

informal an incisive or penetrating effect or quality: that's a question with a bite

a light meal; snack

a cutting, stinging, or smarting sensation

the depth of cut of a machine tool

the grip or hold applied by a tool or chuck to a workpiece

dentistry the angle or manner of contact between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed naturally

the surface of a file or rasp with cutting teeth

the corrosive action of acid, as on a metal etching plate