Word
biter
US/ˈbaɪtɝ/
UK/bˈaɪtɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person or animal that bites, like a dog or an insect that uses its teeth to hurt or hold you.
n. a person or animal that bites, especially one that cuts or grips with the teeth.
Examples
“That little dog is a playful biter.”
“The shelter warns new owners that the rescue terrier is a nervous biter around strangers.”
“Early critics dismissed him as a mere biter of older styles, yet his later work transformed those borrowed fragments into something distinctly original.”
Examples
simple
“That little dog is a playful biter.”
contextual
“The shelter warns new owners that the rescue terrier is a nervous biter around strangers.”
complex
“Early critics dismissed him as a mere biter of older styles, yet his later work transformed those borrowed fragments into something distinctly original.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “biter” in context.
Verb
01. avoid biter
“Wear long sleeves in the evening to avoid the biter.”
verb + noun
02. biter attacks
“The biter attacks without warning if it feels scared.”
noun + verb
03. biter snaps
“Watch out - the biter snaps at anyone who comes close.”
noun + verb
04. muzzle biter
“You must muzzle your biter in public parks.”
verb + noun
05. report biter
“You should report the biter to the animal control office.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. habitual biter
“The puppy is a habitual biter and needs training.”
adj + noun
07. nail biter
“The last five minutes of the match were a real nail biter.”
noun + noun
Noun
08. history of biter
“The rescue dog has a history of biter behaviour.”
noun + prep + noun
09. sign for biter
“They put a sign for the biter on the front gate.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a real nail biter
“The final was a real nail biter right up to the last second.”
11. a vicious little biter
“Their terrier is a vicious little biter with strangers.”
12. beware of the biter
“The note on the fence says beware of the biter inside.”
Etymology
From Middle English biter, bitere, equivalent to bite + -er. Cognate with West Frisian biter (“biter”), Dutch bijter (“biter”), German Low German Bieter (“biter”), German Beißer (“biter”).
From bit + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/biter