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bit
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 bits
1.
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 bit4 • n. Comput. a unit of information expressed as either a 0 or 1 in binary notation. |
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Cite this article
"bit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bit.html "bit." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bit.html |
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bit
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. |
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Cite this article
JOHN DAINTITH. "bit." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN DAINTITH. "bit." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-bit.html JOHN DAINTITH. "bit." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-bit.html |
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bit
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.
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Cite this article
"bit." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bit." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-bit.html "bit." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-bit.html |
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bit
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. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "bit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "bit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bit.html T. F. HOAD. "bit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bit.html |
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bit
bit
1. The cutting part of a drill stem, which may either break or crush the rocks as the drill stem rotates. 2. In computing technology, a binary digit or element of information. |
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "bit." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "bit." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-bit.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "bit." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-bit.html |
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bit
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "bit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "bit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bit1.html T. F. HOAD. "bit." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bit1.html |
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bit
bit Abbreviation for BInary digiT: either a one or a zero.
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Cite this article
DARREL INCE. "bit." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DARREL INCE. "bit." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-bit.html DARREL INCE. "bit." A Dictionary of the Internet. 2001. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O12-bit.html |
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bit
bit see drill . |
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Cite this article
"bit." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bit." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-bit.html "bit." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-bit.html |
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bit
bit
•acquit, admit, backlit, bedsit, befit, bit, Brit, Britt, chit, commit, demit, dit, emit, fit, flit, frit, git, grit, hit, intermit, it, kit, knit, legit, lickety-split, lit, manumit, mishit, mitt, nit, omit, outsit, outwit, permit, pit, Pitt, pretermit, quit, remit, retrofit, shit, sit, skit, slit, snit, spit, split, sprit, squit, submit, tit, transmit, twit, whit, wit, writ, zit
•albeit, howbeit
•poet
•bluet, cruet, intuit, suet, Yuit
•Inuit • floruit • Jesuit
•Babbitt, cohabit, habit, rabbet, rabbit
•ambit, gambit
•jackrabbit • barbet • Nesbit • rarebit
•adhibit, exhibit, gibbet, inhibit, prohibit
•titbit (US tidbit) • flibbertigibbet
•Cobbett, gobbet, hobbit, obit, probit
•orbit • Tobit
•cubit, two-bit
•hatchet, latchet, ratchet
•Pritchett
•crotchet, rochet
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Cite this article
"bit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "bit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bit.html "bit." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bit.html |
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bit
bit (bɪt) Computing, Maths. binary digit
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Cite this article
FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "bit." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "bit." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-bit.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "bit." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-bit.html |
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