bit¹ / bit/ • n. 1. a small piece, part, or quantity of something: give the duck a bit of bread. ∎  (a bit) a fair amount: there's a bit to talk about there. ∎  (a bit) a short time or distance: I fell asleep for a bit. ∎  inf. a set of actions or ideas associated with a specific group or activity: she's gone off to do her theatrical bit.2. inf., dated a unit of 12¹/₂ cents (used in even multiples): the sideshow admission was two bits.PHRASES: a bit somewhat; to some extent: he came back looking a bit annoyed.bit by bit gradually: the school was built bit by bit over the years.bits and pieces an assortment of small items: weird bits and pieces of paraphernalia.do one's bit inf. make a useful contribution to an effort or cause: she was keen to do her bit to help others.not a bit not at all: I'm not a bit tired.to bits1. into pieces: he smashed it to bits with a hammer.2. inf. very much: we've got two great kids whom I love to bits.bit² • past of bite.bit³ • n. 1. a mouthpiece, typically made of metal, that is attached to a bridle and used to control a horse.2. a tool or piece for boring or drilling, typically of metal: a drill bit. ∎  the cutting or gripping part of a plane, pliers, or other tool.• v. [tr.] put a bit into the mouth of (a horse). ∎ fig. restrain: my own hysteria was bitted by upbringing and respect.DERIVATIVES: bit·ted adj. [in comb.] a double-bitted ax.

drill bits

bit Short for binary digit.
1. Either of the two digits 0 and 1 in the binary number system. Bits are used in computing for the internal representation of numbers, characters, and instructions. The bit is the smallest unit of storage and hence of information in any binary system within a computer.

2. The fundamental unit of information used in information theory. It is the quantity of information required to distinguish between a pair of equiprobable events.

bit Abbreviation for binary digit, a 1 or 0 used in binary arithmetic. In computing, a bit is the smallest element of storage. Groups of bits form a byte of binary code representing letters and other characters. Binary code is used in computing because it is easy to represent each 1 or 0 by the presence or absence of an electrical voltage. The code is also easy to store on disk as a magnetic or optical pattern.

bit1
A. †biting, bite OE.; †cutting edge XIV; boring-piece, borer XVI;

B. mouth-piece of a bridle XIV. OE. bite = OS. biti, OHG. biz (G. biss), ON. bit :- Gmc. *bitiz, f. *bītan BITE. The origin of sense B is not clear; cf. OE. bitol bridle, ON. bitull, G. gebiss.

bit2 portion bitten off; morsel of food OE.; small piece XVI. OE. bita = OHG. bizzo (G. bissen), ON. biti (see BITT) :- Gmc. *bitan-, f. *bītan BITE.