bite
n. countablen. the act of using your teeth to cut into something, or a small amount of food that you eat quickly. It can also describe a sharp or cold feeling, like a cold wind on your skin.
n. the act of gripping or cutting with the teeth, or a small portion of food intended for consumption. In a figurative sense, it refers to a sharp, stinging quality or a degree of effectiveness and power.
He takes a big bite of the apple.
We only have ten minutes before the meeting, so let's grab a quick bite at the deli.
The autumn air has a distinct bite this morning, forcing commuters to pull their coats tighter as they wait for the train.
From Middle English biten, from Old English bītan (“bite”), from Proto-West Germanic bītan, from Proto-Germanic bītaną (“bite”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“split”). Cognates include Saterland Frisian biete (“bite”), West Frisian bite (“bite”), Dutch bijten (“bite”), German Low German bieten (“bite”), German beißen, beissen (“bite”), Danish bide (“bite”), Swedish bita (“bite”), Norwegian Bokmål bite (“bite”), Norwegian Nynorsk bita (“bite”), Icelandic bíta (“bite”), Gothic 𐌱𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (beitan, “bite”), Latin findō (“split”), Ancient Greek φείδομαι (pheídomai), Sanskrit भिद् (bhid, “break”).
Often used in the idiomatic phrase 'grab a bite' to mean eating a light meal.