BITTER


Meaning of BITTER in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈbɪtə ]

adj. & n. --adj. 1 having a sharp pungent taste; not sweet. 2 a caused by or showing mental pain or resentment (bitter memories; bitter rejoinder). b painful or difficult to accept (bitter disappointment). 3 a harsh; virulent (bitter animosity). b piercingly cold. --n. 1 Brit. beer strongly flavoured with hops and having a bitter taste. 2 (in pl.) liquor with a bitter flavour (esp. of wormwood) used as an additive in cocktails. øbitter-apple = COLOCYNTH. bitter orange = SEVILLE ORANGE. bitter pill something unpleasant that has to be accepted. bitter-sweet adj. 1 sweet with a bitter after-taste. 2 arousing pleasure tinged with pain or sorrow. --n. 1 a sweetness with a bitter after-taste. b pleasure tinged with pain or sorrow. 2 = woody nightshade (see NIGHTSHADE). to the bitter end to the very end in spite of difficulties. øøbitterly adv. bitterness n. [OE biter prob. f. Gmc: to the bitter end may be assoc. with a Naut. word bitter = 'last part of a cable': see BITTS]

English main colloquial, spoken dictionary.      Английский основной разговорный словарь.