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a bit

a bit
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ey bit]
    • /eɪ bɪt/
    • /ə bɪt/
    • 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 4
  • 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 4
  • 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 4
  • noun a bit rather; somewhat COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary . Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 4
  • noun a bit a small piece or quantity of anything: a bit of string. 2
  • noun a bit a short time: Wait a bit. 2

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 Viewer

Synonyms 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.

See also

Matching words

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