bite

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

n. morsel, scrap; nip. —v. cut; snap, snip; corrode; sting. See food, littleness, pungency.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [What one takes in the mouth at one time]

Syn. mouthful, cud, chew, taste, spoonful, forkful, nip, morsel, nibble, bit, chaw*.

2. [The result of being bitten]

Syn. wound, sting, laceration; see injury 1 .

3. [A sharp sensation]

Syn. sting, prick, burn; see pain 2 .

4. [A quick meal]

Syn. snack, nibble, light meal, nosh*; see meal 2 .

• put the bite on*,

Syn. pressure, ask for a loan, touch*; see borrow 1 .

v.

1. [To seize or sever with the teeth]

Syn. snap, gnaw, sink one's teeth into, nip, lacerate, pierce, sting, nibble, chew, chew up, mouth, gulp, worry, taste, masticate, clamp, champ, chomp, munch, bite into, crunch, ruminate, mangle, chaw*; see also eat 1 , taste 1 .

2. [To be given to biting]

Syn. snap, be vicious, bare the teeth; see attack 2 , hurt 1 .

3. [To cut or corrode]

Syn. burn, sting, slash, smart, etch, eat away, wear away, sear, rot, rust, oxidize, erode, dissolve, deteriorate, decay, consume, decompose, engrave.

4. [To take bait]

Syn. rise to the bait, strike, nibble, get hooked; swallow hook, line, and sinker*.

5. [*To take a chance]

Syn. volunteer, risk, be a victim; see chance 2 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

mouthful, morsel, spoonful, chunk, snack, nosh.

II

v.

nip, chew, champ, chomp, gnaw, munch, nibble, snap, sink one's teeth into, hold, clamp.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I verb 1. To seize, as food, with the teeth: champ, chomp, gnash, gnaw. See ATTACK, INGESTION. 2. To consume gradually, as by chemical reaction or friction: corrode, eat, erode, gnaw, wear, wear away. See ATTACK. 3. To feel or cause to feel a sensation of heat or discomfort: burn, smart, sting. See PAIN. II noun 1. A cutting quality: edge, incisiveness, keenness, sharpness, sting. See SHARP. 2. Informal A small portion of food: bit1, crumb, morsel, mouthful, piece. See BIG. 3. A light meal: morsel, snack. See INGESTION.