bitter

comparative more bitter · comparative bitterer · superlative most bitter · superlative bitterest

1. Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).

   The coffee tasted bitter.

   2 more examples

   Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth[…].

   1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC

   A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades.

   2018 May 16, Adam Rogers, “The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel”, in Wired

2. Harsh, piercing, acerbic or stinging.

   It was at the end of February, […] when the world was cold, and a bitter wind howled down the moors […].

   1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust, p.31 (Perennial paperback edition)

3. Hateful or hostile.

   They're bitter enemies.

   3 more examples

   Tottenham have not won in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium for 12 years, with Arsenal losing just one of their last 29 home league games against their bitter rivals.

   2022 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham: Gunners show identity & direction in outstanding derby win”, in BBC Sport

   He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family.

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC

   Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 3:19

4. Cynical and resentful.

   I've been bitter ever since that defeat.

   Synonyms: jaded

comparative more bitter · superlative most bitter

1. To an intense or severe degree; bitterly.

   After that bitter-spoken warning, talk ceased outside […].

   2022, Ernest Haycox, The Complete Novels: Son of the West, Saddle and Ride, Action by Night, The Silver Desert, Bugles in the Afternoon

   2 more examples

   A dynamic personality in the outfit, he met his death in the bitter-fought engagements in Venafro.

   2012, Mir Bahmanyar, Darby's Rangers 1942–45, page 26

   The dream of it ached, bitter and sharp, for that was all it was.

   2022, Bec McMaster, Flames and Fated Mates: Six Seductive Fantasy Romance Novels

plural bitters

1. countableuncountableusually in the plural bittersA liquid or powder, made from bitter herbs, used in mixed drinks or as a tonic.

   Thus I begin: "All is not gold that glitters, "Pleasure seems sweet, but proves a glass of bitters.

   1773, Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer

2. countableuncountableA type of beer heavily flavored with hops.
3. countableuncountablenauticalA turn of a cable about the bitts.

present singular third person bitters · participle present bittering · participle past bittered · past bittered

1. archaicTo make bitter.

   bittered with the hop

   1766, John Wilkinson, Tutamen Nauticum

plural bitters

1. in compoundsinformalcomputingA hardware system whose architecture is based around units of the specified number of bits (binary digits).

   However, 16-bitters are far more expensive than the 8-bit variety. And, unfortunately, have only a handful of business applications software packages that really take advantage of them.

   1983, Computerworld, volume 17, number 49, page 21

   1 more example

   The company believes that the 32-bit market will almost equal that of 16-bitters by the end of the decade. Chip maker Zilog Inc., not a major player in the 16-bit arena, is even more bullish about 32-bitters as it readies its own version for market.

   1984, Electronic Business, volume 10, page 154

1. A surname from Dutch or German.