bite

To hurt or attack someone by closing your teeth on their body.

• That dog might bite you.
• The frightened child bit my hand.
• Has a snake ever bitten anyone here?

Common phrases: bite someone, bite a hand, dogs that bite

To use your teeth to cut into food or another object.

• Bite the apple carefully.
• She bit into her sandwich.
• He has bitten his nails since childhood.

How to use it: bite into something (He bit into a ripe peach.)

Common phrases: bite into something, bite an apple, bite your nails

If an insect does this, it makes a small hole in your skin, often causing itching.

• Mosquitoes bite me every summer.
• Something bit my ankle last night.
• These tiny insects can bite through thin clothing.

Common phrases: mosquitoes that bite, bite someone, bite at night

To press firmly into a surface and get a strong hold on it.

• The tyres failed to bite on the ice.
• The brakes bit suddenly and the car stopped.
• The saw teeth bite into the wood.

How to use it: bite into something (The metal points bite into the ice.)

Similar words: grip, catch

Opposites: slip

Common phrases: bite into something, tyres bite firmly, brakes begin to bite

A small amount of food that you can put in your mouth at once.

• Try a bite of cake.
• She ate the sandwich in three bites.
• Can I have a bite of your apple?

How to use it: a bite of something (He took a bite of bread.)

Similar words: mouthful

Common phrases: a bite of something, take a bite, one more bite

A mark or wound left on the skin by an animal or insect.

• The bite on my arm hurts.
• She needed treatment for a dog bite.
• Keep insect bites clean to prevent infection.

Common phrases: snake bite, dog bite, insect bite

A small swollen area of skin caused by an insect.

• This mosquito bite is itchy.
• She put cream on the bites.
• I woke up with red bites on both legs.

Similar words: insect sting

Common phrases: mosquito bite, itchy bite, insect bite

An action of closing the teeth on someone or something.

• The dog gave the rope a bite.
• One bite broke the biscuit in half.
• A crocodile has a very powerful bite.

Common phrases: take a bite, a powerful bite, a quick bite