Skip to main content
bite

bite

6 3.7
A fish taking the bait on a fishing line
  • noun
  • /baɪt/
: picada
  • I lost another one, and I didn't even feel the fish bite.

Examples

  • If you wait patiently, you might get a bite on your line while fishing.

  • You got a bite, you got a bite!

  • Step two, cast it in and wait for a bite.

  • At the first hint of a bite, all 17,000 boats would dash over.

  • Xavier was rigging his line when John shouted, "Hey, a bite! I've got one!"

    Fiction book (1998)
  • During the tournament, several anglers reported a good bite in the morning.

  • After casting his line, he felt a strong bite and quickly reeled in the fish.

Idioms

36 1.0

A small piece of food taken from a larger serving

18 5.8

To face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely

to bite the dust
  • Informal
15 6.8

To stop working or fail completely

bite me
  • Offensive
13 9.9

A rude phrase people use to tell someone you are annoyed and do not care

To harm someone who helps you

I'll bite
  • Informal
6 9.9

A phrase that says you are willing to hear more, often when not sure

4 3.1

To eat or swallow something in a single mouthful

bite my ass
  • Offensive
3 9.9

A rude, angry reply that shows you do not care what someone says

2 9.9

To fail badly and lose something important

2 6.1

Talks in a threatening way but does not act

2 8.4

A playful goodnight wish hoping someone has good dreams

2 9.8

To wish someone a good night as a joke

1 9.9

A rude, joking phrase to tell someone to go away

1 6.1

Stop yourself from saying something you want to say because it would be rude

To finish a very large task by doing small easy steps

to bite one's ass
  • Offensive
9.9

Tell someone angrily to go away using rude words

6.1

Pressing your lips together to keep from laughing or saying something

Compounds

sound bite
  • Literature
62 4.0

A short part of a recorded statement on radio or television, often by a politician

bite to eat
  • Informal
36 1.8

A small quick meal or snack

34 1.0

A single piece of food you put into your mouth at once

13 1.0

A small red itchy bump on the skin from a mosquito

7 1.0

An injury when a dog's teeth break the skin

6 2.5

A small itchy or painful mark on the skin caused by an insect

3 2.5

A small red itchy spot on the skin caused by a flea

1 5.8

The part of your pay the government takes

love bite
  • NSFW
1 7.4

A temporary mark on the skin made by kissing or sucking

A bite that puts poison into the body and can hurt or kill

bite plate
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A small removable piece of plastic that fits on the roof of the mouth to help the teeth or jaw

flea bite
  • Informal
5.3

A very small problem that is not important compared to bigger ones

7.6

A small itchy mark on the skin caused by tiny insects called no-see-ums

Surface Forms

bite singular
bites plural

Etymology

Bite in fishing (when a fish takes the hook) comes from the action 'to bite' (old English bītan) because the fish takes the bait with its mouth. So a fishing 'bite' is the moment the fish uses its teeth or mouth on the bait.