b-i-t-e
BITE means to use your teeth to cut into or through something. As a noun, it refers to the act of biting or a piece taken by biting. In word games like Scrabble, BITE is a versatile 4-letter word worth 6 base points.
6
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
BITE is one of the most common and versatile 4-letter words in the English language, serving as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, "bite" means to use your teeth to cut, grip, or tear something. This action is fundamental to how many animals, including humans, consume food. The word can also describe non-literal actions, such as when cold weather "bites" at exposed skin, or when a fish "bites" on a fishing hook.
As a noun, "bite" refers to the act of biting itself, the wound or mark left by biting, or a piece of food small enough to be bitten off easily. We speak of taking "a bite" of an apple or grabbing "a quick bite" to eat. The word extends metaphorically to describe sharpness or effectiveness, as in a joke with "bite" or a policy with "real bite" to it.
In Scrabble and word games, BITE offers excellent value for a common word. With B worth 3 points and the remaining letters worth 1 point each, it totals 6 base points. Its balanced mix of consonants and vowels makes it easy to play, while the less common B adds scoring potential. The word's flexibility allows for numerous extensions: BITER, BITES, BITERS, BITEABLE, and compound words like SNAKEBITE or FROSTBITE.
The versatility of BITE extends to its many idiomatic uses. "Bite the bullet" means to face a difficult situation bravely. "Bite off more than you can chew" warns against taking on too much. "Bite the dust" refers to failure or death. "Bite your tongue" suggests holding back words. These expressions demonstrate how deeply embedded BITE is in English communication, making it essential vocabulary for language learners and word game enthusiasts alike.
The word "bite" has ancient Germanic roots, tracing back to Old English "bītan," which meant "to bite, tear off with the teeth." This connects to Proto-Germanic *bītan and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- ("to split, cleave"). The word has cognates across Germanic languages: German "beißen," Dutch "bijten," and Old Norse "bíta."
The evolution from "splitting" to "biting" reflects the mechanical action of teeth separating food. Interestingly, the past tense "bit" and past participle "bitten" preserve ancient strong verb patterns, making BITE one of English's irregular verbs. The noun form developed from the verb in Middle English, expanding the word's utility.
Related words like "bit" (a small piece) and "bitter" (sharp-tasting) share this etymological root, all connected to the idea of sharpness, cutting, or piercing. This word family demonstrates how a simple physical action became central to numerous concepts in English.
Words with similar meaning
Chew
To crush with teeth
Gnaw
To bite persistently
Nip
To bite gently or pinch
Chomp
To bite forcefully
Munch
To chew steadily
Words with opposite meaning
Release
To let go
Spit
To expel from mouth
Abstain
To refrain from
Caress
To touch gently
Face a difficult situation bravely
Take on more than you can handle
Fail or die
Stop yourself from speaking
•BITE contains the high-value letter B (3 points), making it more valuable than many common 4-letter words
•The word BITE can be extended in multiple directions: BITES, BITER, BITERS, BITEABLE, ANTIBITE
•In competitive Scrabble, BITE is often used as a building block for longer words like FROSTBITE (14 points) or SNAKEBITE (15 points)
"I played BITE with the B on a double letter score, turning a 6-point word into a solid 9-pointer."
"BITE was the perfect setup word - my opponent extended it to BITEABLE for a seven-letter bonus!"
CHEW
Crush with teeth
SHARP
Having a cutting edge
GRAIN
Small hard particle
SLICE
Cut into pieces
MALLET
Striking tool
TEST
Try or examine
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 6 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 2
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like BITE