# bitten

/ˈbɪtən/ (US) · /bˈɪtən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bitten
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. past participle of bite

verb · CEFR A2

the form of 'bite' used after 'have' or 'be'.

For teachers: the past participle of the irregular verb 'bite', used in perfect tenses and passive constructions.

- I have been bitten by mosquitoes every night this week.
- The researchers discovered that several subjects had been bitten by the same species of spider during the initial field study.

### 2. having received a bite

adjective · CEFR B1

describing someone or something that has been wounded by teeth.

For teachers: describing a person, animal, or object that has sustained a wound or mark from teeth.

- The bitten apple turned brown after sitting on the table for an hour.
- The veterinarian examined the bitten area carefully to determine if the wound required stitches or just a simple cleaning.

### 3. abruptly cut off

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

describing a leaf or root that looks like the end was bitten off.

For teachers: describing a botanical structure, such as a leaf or root, that appears abruptly truncated or premorse.

- The plant is easy to identify because of its bitten root shape.
- The specimen was classified as a specific subspecies due to its characteristic bitten leaves, which appear to end suddenly rather than tapering to a point.

Usage: In botanical contexts, this is often a synonym for 'premorse'.

## Examples

- I have been bitten by a mosquito.
- The fruit had been bitten into and left on the table, attracting several small flies.
- Once bitten by the travel bug, she found it nearly impossible to settle back into the predictable routine of her quiet suburban life.

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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.