bit

1.
n.
1 a small piece or quantity (a bit of cheese; give me another bit; that bit is too small).
2 (prec. by a) a a fair amount (sold quite a bit; needed a bit of persuading). b colloq. somewhat (am a bit tired). c (foll. by of) colloq. rather (a bit of an idiot). d (foll. by of) colloq. only a little; a mere (a bit of a boy).
3 a short time or distance (wait a bit; move up a bit).
4 US sl. a unit of 121/2 cents (used only in even multiples).
Phrases and idioms:
bit by bit gradually. bit of all right sl. a pleasing person or thing, esp. a woman. bit of fluff (or skirt or stuff) see FLUFF, SKIRT, STUFF. bit on the side sl. an extramarital sexual relationship. bit part a minor part in a play or a film. bits and pieces (or bobs) an assortment of small items. do one's bit colloq. make a useful contribution to an effort or cause. every bit as see EVERY. not a bit (or not a bit of it) not at all. to bits into pieces.
Etymology: OE bita f. Gmc, rel. to BITE
2.
past of BITE.
3.
n. & v.
—n.
1 a metal mouthpiece on a bridle, used to control a horse.
2 a (usu. metal) tool or piece for boring or drilling.
3 the cutting or gripping part of a plane, pincers, etc.
4 the part of a key that engages with the lock-lever.
5 the copper head of a soldering-iron.
—v.tr.
1 put a bit into the mouth of (a horse).
2 restrain.
Phrases and idioms:
take the bit between one's teeth 1 take decisive personal action.
2 escape from control.
Etymology: OE bite f. Gmc, rel. to BITE
4.
n. Computing a unit of information expressed as a choice between two possibilities; a 0 or 1 in binary notation.
Etymology: BINARY + DIGIT