# bite

/ˈbaɪt/ (US) · /bˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bite
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to use teeth

verb · CEFR A2

to use your teeth to cut into or through something.

For teachers: to use the teeth to cut into, grip, or seize something.

- Be careful because that dog might bite if you get too close.
- The toddler accidentally bit his tongue while trying to chew a particularly tough piece of steak.

### 2. to have an effect

verb · CEFR B2

to start to have a strong or unpleasant effect.

For teachers: to take effect or begin to have a significant, often deleterious, impact.

- The higher prices are starting to bite, and people are buying less.
- As the winter temperatures dropped, the fuel shortages began to bite, forcing many families to ration their heating.

Usage: Often used in economic or social contexts.

### 3. to be bad

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

to be very bad, annoying, or disappointing.

For teachers: to be extremely unpleasant or of very poor quality.

- It really bites that we have to work on a Saturday.
- The fact that the concert was cancelled after we drove three hours to get there really bites.

Usage: Used as a stative verb in this sense.

Teaching tip: This is very common in casual spoken English but should be avoided in professional writing.

### 4. a small amount of food

noun · CEFR A2

a small amount of food that you eat quickly.

For teachers: a small amount of food; a snack or a single mouthful produced by biting.

- We should grab a quick bite before the movie starts.
- After the long hike, even a small bite of a protein bar felt like a luxury.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'a bite to eat'.

### 5. an insect sting or wound

noun · CEFR A2

a mark or injury on your skin made by an insect or animal.

For teachers: a wound, puncture, or skin irritation resulting from the teeth or mouthparts of an animal or insect.

- I have a red mosquito bite on my arm that is very itchy.
- The doctor examined the snake bite carefully to determine if the species was venomous.

### 6. a sharp quality

noun · CEFR B2

a sharp or strong feeling, taste, or quality.

For teachers: a sharp, pungent, or incisive quality; often refers to cold weather or spicy food.

- There is a real bite in the air this morning, so wear a coat.
- The critic's review had a certain bite to it, exposing the flaws in the director's logic with clinical precision.

## Examples

- 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 EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.