—adj.
1 having a sharp pungent taste; not sweet.
2 a caused by or showing mental pain or resentment (bitter memories; bitter rejoinder). b painful or difficult to accept (bitter disappointment).
3 a harsh; virulent (bitter animosity). b piercingly cold.
—n.
1 Brit. beer strongly flavoured with hops and having a bitter taste.
2 (in pl.) liquor with a bitter flavour (esp. of wormwood) used as an additive in cocktails.
Phrases and idioms:
bitter-apple = COLOCYNTH. bitter orange = SEVILLE ORANGE. bitter pill something unpleasant that has to be accepted. bitter-sweet adj.
1 sweet with a bitter after-taste.
2 arousing pleasure tinged with pain or sorrow.
—n.
1 a sweetness with a bitter after-taste. b pleasure tinged with pain or sorrow.
2 = woody nightshade (see NIGHTSHADE). to the bitter end to the very end in spite of difficulties.
Derivatives:
bitterly adv. bitterness n.
Etymology: OE biter prob. f. Gmc: to the bitter end may be assoc. with a Naut. word bitter = 'last part of a cable': see BITTS
Useful english dictionary. 2012.