Bit
Definition
Bit is a noun with multiple meanings, commonly referring to a small piece or portion of something. It can also mean a unit of information in computing, representing a binary digit (0 or 1). As the past tense of the verb "bite," it also refers to the action of having bitten something.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
- Verb (past tense of "bite")
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /bɪt/
- Respelling: BIT
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /bɪt/
- Respelling: BIT
Etymology
The word "bit" originates from Old English "bita," meaning "bite" or "piece," and is related to the verb "bite." In computing, "bit" is a shortening of "binary digit," coined in the mid-20th century.
Derivatives
- Bitwise (adjective, computing)
- Bitten (verb, past participle of "bite")
- Bitty (adjective, informal)
- Drill bit (noun)
- Bitfield (noun, computing)
Synonyms
- Piece
- Fragment
- Portion
Antonyms
- Whole
- Entirety
- Total
Usage
The term "bit" is used in various contexts, from computing to everyday language, where it denotes a small amount or piece. For example, "He ate a bit of the cake," or "A bit is the smallest unit of data in computing."
Related Terms
- Piece: A part or portion of a whole.
- Byte: A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits.
- Segment: A part of a whole, especially in a divided form.
Detailed Definitions
Noun
- A small piece or portion of something: Refers to a minor or small part of a whole.
- Example: "She ate just a bit of the dessert."
- A binary digit in computing: In computing, a bit represents the smallest unit of data, either a 0 or a 1 in binary code.
- Example: "A byte consists of 8 bits."
- The past tense of "bite": Used to refer to the action of having bitten.
- Example: "He bit into the apple with a crunch."
bit
Everyone desires just a bit of sweetness from life.
Bits, the fundamental units of digital information.
Every bit counts in the world of craftsmanship.
Mandarin (🇨🇳)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): 一点 (yīdiǎn)
- IPA Pronunciation: /iː˧˥ djɛn˨˩˦/
- Respelling: yi-dian
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): 位 (wèi)
- IPA Pronunciation: /wɛi˥˩/
- Respelling: wei
Hindi (🇮🇳)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): टुकड़ा (ṭukṛā)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʈʊkɽaː/
- Respelling: tukra
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): बिट (biṭ)
- IPA Pronunciation: /biʈ/
- Respelling: bit
Spanish (🇪🇸)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): pedazo
- IPA Pronunciation: /peˈðaθo/
- Respelling: pe-datho
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
French (🇫🇷)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): morceau
- IPA Pronunciation: /mɔʁso/
- Respelling: mor-so
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Modern Standard Arabic (🇸🇦)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): قطعة (qaṭʿah)
- IPA Pronunciation: /qɑtˤʕɑ/
- Respelling: qat'a
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): بت (bit)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Bengali (🇧🇩)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): টুকরা (ṭukra)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʈukro/
- Respelling: tukro
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): বিট (biṭ)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Russian (🇷🇺)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): кусочек (kusochek)
- IPA Pronunciation: /kʊˈsot͡ɕɪk/
- Respelling: kusochik
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): бит (bit)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Portuguese (🇵🇹)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): pedaço
- IPA Pronunciation: /pɨˈdasu/
- Respelling: pe-da-so
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Indonesian (🇮🇩)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): potongan
- IPA Pronunciation: /potɔŋan/
- Respelling: potongan
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
German (🇩🇪)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): Stück
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʃtʏk/
- Respelling: shtuk
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): Bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Japanese (🇯🇵)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): 一部 (ichibu)
- IPA Pronunciation: /it͡ɕibɯː/
- Respelling: ichibu
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): ビット (bitto)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bitto/
- Respelling: bitto
Vietnamese (🇻🇳)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): mảnh
- IPA Pronunciation: /maɪ̯ŋ˧/
- Respelling: mahn
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Korean (🇰🇷)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): 조각 (jogak)
- IPA Pronunciation: /d͡ʑo.ɡak̚/
- Respelling: jo-gak
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): 비트 (biteu)
- IPA Pronunciation: /biːtʰɯ/
- Respelling: biteu
Turkish (🇹🇷)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): parça
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈpaɾtʃa/
- Respelling: parcha
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): bit
- IPA Pronunciation: /bit/
- Respelling: bit
Urdu (🇵🇰)
- Meaning 1 (small piece): ٹکڑا (ṭukṛā)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʈʊkɽaː/
- Respelling: tukra
- Meaning 2 (binary digit): بٹ (biṭ)
- IPA Pronunciation: /biʈ/
- Respelling: bit
