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.
Phrases and idioms:
bitter-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.
Derivatives:
bitterly adv. bitterness n.
Etymology: OE biter prob. f. Gmc: to the bitter end may be assoc. with a Naut. word bitter 'last part of a cable': see BITTS