Bit
The bit is a basic unit of information in information theory, computing, and digital communications. The name is a portmanteau of binary digit.In information theory, one bit is typically defined as the information entropy of a binary random variable that is 0 or 1 with equal probability, or the information that is gained when the value of such a variable becomes known. As a unit of information, the bit has also been called a shannon, named after Claude Shannon.
As a binary digit, the bit represents a logical value, having only one of two values. It may be physically implemented with a two-state device. These state values are most commonly represented as either 0or1, but other representations such as true/false, yes/no, +/−, or on/off are possible. The correspondence between these values and the physical states of the underlying storage or device is a matter of convention, and different assignments may be used even within the same device or program.
The symbol for the binary digit is either simply bit per recommendation by the IEC 80000-13:2008 standard, or the lowercase character b, as recommended by the IEEE 1541-2002 and IEEE Std 260.1-2004 standards. A group of eight binary digits is commonly called one byte, but historically the size of the byte is not strictly defined.
Bid (verb)
To issue a command; to tell.
“He bade me come in.”
Bid (verb)
To invite; to summon.
“She was bidden to the wedding.”
Bid (verb)
To utter a greeting or salutation.
Bid (verb)
To make an offer to pay or accept a certain price.
“Have you ever bid in an auction?”
Bid (verb)
To offer as a price.
“She bid £2000 for the Persian carpet.”
Bid (verb)
To make an attempt.
“He was bidding for the chance to coach his team to victory once again.”
Bid (verb)
To announce (one’s goal), before starting play.
Bid (verb)
To proclaim (a bede, prayer); to pray.
Bid (noun)
An offer at an auction, or to carry out a piece of work.
“His bid was $35,000.”
“a bid for a lucrative transport contract”
Bid (noun)
A (failed) attempt to receive or intercept a pass.
“Nice bid!”
Bid (noun)
An attempt, effort, or pursuit (of a goal).
“Their efforts represented a sincere bid for success.”
“She put in her bid for the presidency.”
“He put in his bid for office.”
Bit (noun)
A piece of metal placed in a horse’s mouth and connected to the reins to direct the animal.
“A horse hates having a bit put in its mouth.”
Bit (noun)
A rotary cutting tool fitted to a drill, used to bore holes.
Bit (noun)
A coin of a specified value. (Also formerly used for a nine-pence coin in the British Caribbean, and a fourpenny piece, or groat, in the British West Indies.)
“a threepenny bit”
Bit (noun)
A ten-cent piece, dime.
Bit (noun)
An eighth of a dollar. Note that there is no coin minted worth 12.5 cents. (When this term first came into use, the Spanish 8 reales coin was widely used as a dollar equivalent, and thus the 1 real coin was equivalent to 12.5 cents.)
“A quarter is two bits.”
Bit (noun)
In the southern and southwestern states, a small silver coin (such as the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12½ cents; also, the sum of 12½ cents.
Bit (noun)
A small amount of something.
“There were bits of paper all over the floor.”
“Does your leg still hurt? / Just a bit now.”
“I’ve done my bit; I expect you to do yours.”
Bit (noun)
Specifically, a small amount of time.
“I’ll be there in a bit; I need to take care of something first.”
“He was here just a bit ago, but it looks like he’s stepped out.”
Bit (noun)
A portion of something.
“I’d like a big bit of cake, please.”
Bit (noun)
Somewhat; something, but not very great; also used like jot and whit to express the smallest degree.
“Am I bored? Not a bit of it!”
Bit (noun)
A prison sentence, especially a short one.
Bit (noun)
An excerpt of material making up part of a show, comedy routine, etc.
“His bit about video games was not nearly as entertaining as the other segments of his show.”
Bit (noun)
The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and tumblers.
Bit (noun)
The cutting iron of a plane.
Bit (noun)
A binary digit, generally represented as a 1 or 0.
Bit (noun)
The smallest unit of storage in a digital computer, consisting of a binary digit.
Bit (noun)
Any datum that may take on one of exactly two values.
“status bits on IRC; permission bits in a file system”
Bit (noun)
A unit of measure for information entropy.
Bit (noun)
A microbitcoin, or a millionth of a bitcoin (0.000001 BTC).
Bit (adverb)
To a small extent; in a small amount (usually with “a”).
“That’s a bit too sweet.”
Bit (verb)
To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of (a horse).
Bit (verb)
, bitten
“I have been bit by your dog!”
Bit (adjective)
bitten.
“Even though he’s bit, of course the zombies would still chase him.”
Bit (adjective)
Having been bitten.
Bit (noun)
a small piece, part, or quantity of something
“he read bits of his work to me”
“give the duck a bit of bread”
Bit (noun)
a short time or distance
“I fell asleep for a bit”
“can you move over a bit?”
Bit (noun)
a fairly large amount
“working in a foreign country took quite a bit of getting used to”
Bit (noun)
a set of actions or ideas associated with a specific group or activity
“Miranda could go off and do her theatrical bit”
Bit (noun)
a girl or young woman
“he went and married some young bit half his age”
Bit (noun)
a person’s genitals
“You could see everything! All her bits!”
Bit (noun)
a unit of 12 1/2 cents (used only in even multiples).
Bit (noun)
a mouthpiece, typically made of metal, which is attached to a bridle and used to control a horse.
Bit (noun)
a tool or piece for boring or drilling
“a drill bit”
Bit (noun)
the cutting or gripping part of a plane, pincers, or other tool.
Bit (noun)
the part of a key that engages with the lock lever.
Bit (noun)
the copper head of a soldering iron.
Bit (noun)
a unit of information expressed as either a 0 or 1 in binary notation.
Bit (verb)
put a bit into the mouth of (a horse).
Bit (verb)
restrain
“my own hysteria was bitted by upbringing and respect”