BITE

I. verb (bit; bitten; also bit; biting) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bītan; akin to Old High German bīzan to ~, Latin findere to split Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to seize especially with teeth or jaws so as to enter, grip, or wound, to wound, pierce, or sting especially with a fang or a proboscis, to cut or pierce with or as if with an edged weapon, to cause sharp pain or stinging discomfort to, to take hold of, to take in ; cheat , intransitive verb to ~ or have the habit of biting something, to cut, pierce, or take hold, to cause irritation or smarting, corrode , 5. to take a bait, to respond so as to be caught (as by a trick), to accept a suggestion or an offer , to take or maintain a firm hold, to produce a negative effect , to be objectionable or extremely bad in quality ; stink , suck , ~r noun II. noun Date: 15th century 1. the act of biting, the manner of biting, food : as, the amount of food taken at a ~ ; morsel , a small amount of food ; snack , 3. archaic cheat , trick , sharper , a wound made by biting, the hold or grip by which friction is created or purchase is obtained, a surface that creates friction or is brought into contact with another for the purpose of obtaining a hold, 7. a keen incisive quality, a sharp penetrating effect, a single exposure of an etcher's plate to the corrosive action of acid, an amount taken usually in one operation for one purpose ; share , sound ~