Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [ey bit]
- /eɪ bɪt/
- /ə bɪt/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [ey bit]
- /eɪ bɪt/
Definitions of a bit words
- quantifier a bit A bit of something is a small amount of it. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary . Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 3
- phrase a bit A bit means to a small extent or degree. It is sometimes used to make a statement less extreme. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary . Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 3
- phrase a bit You use a bit before 'more' or 'less' to mean a small amount more or a small amount less. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary . Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 3
- noun a bit rather; somewhat COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary . Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 3
- noun a bit a small piece or quantity of anything: a bit of string. 1
- noun a bit a short time: Wait a bit. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of a bit
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; Middle English bite, Old English bita bit, morsel; cognate with German Bissen, Old Norse biti. See bite
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for A bit
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
a bit popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
a bit usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for a bit
adj a bit
- a few — small number of
determiner a bit
- a little — small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room.
- any — You use any in statements with negative meaning to indicate that no thing or person of a particular type exists, is present, or is involved in a situation.
- in general — of or relating to all persons or things belonging to a group or category: a general meeting of the employees.
adv a bit
- averagely — a quantity, rating, or the like that represents or approximates an arithmetic mean: Her golf average is in the 90s. My average in science has gone from B to C this semester.
general a bit
- all — You use all to indicate that you are referring to the whole of a particular group or thing or to everyone or everything of a particular kind.
- each — every one of two or more considered individually or one by one: each stone in a building; a hallway with a door at each end.
- either — Used before the first of two (or occasionally more ) alternatives that are being specified (the other being introduced by “ or ”).
- indiscriminate — not discriminating; lacking in care, judgment, selectivity, etc.: indiscriminate in one's friendships.
- one — being or amounting to a single unit or individual or entire thing, item, or object rather than two or more; a single: one woman; one nation; one piece of cake.
adverb a bit
- awhile — Awhile means for a short time. It is more commonly spelled 'a while', which is considered more correct, especially in British English.
- marginally — pertaining to a margin.
- mildly — amiably gentle or temperate in feeling or behavior toward others.
noun a bit
- handful — the quantity or amount that the hand can hold: a handful of coins.
