bitter

bitter

I

bit‧ter¹ S3 W3 /ˈbɪtə $ -ər/ adjective1. feeling angry, jealous, and upset because you think you have been treated unfairly ⇨ bitterly
    bitter about
    I feel very bitter about it.
    a bitter old man
2. [only before noun] making you feel very unhappy and upset ⇨ bitterly
    a bitter disappointment/blow
    If he failed, it would be a bitter disappointment to his parents.
    His photo stirred up bitter memories.
    from bitter experience (=because of your own very unpleasant experiences)
    She knew from bitter experience that it would be impossible to talk it over with Julian.
3. a bitter argument, battle etc is one in which people oppose or criticize each other with strong feelings of hate and anger
    bitter dispute/battle/struggle etc
    The couple are locked in a bitter battle for custody of the children.
    The government faces bitter opposition to these policies.
    The countries are still bitter enemies.
4. having a strong sharp taste, like black coffee without sugar ⇨ sour, sweet:
    Enjoy the beer’s bitter taste as you slowly drink it.
    bitter chocolate
5. unpleasantly cold ⇨ bitterly:
    a bitter wind
    the bitter cold of the Midwestern winters
6. to the bitter end continuing until the end, even though this is difficult:
    Employees have vowed to fight the closure to the bitter end.
7. a bitter pill (to swallow) something very unpleasant that you must accept:
    The knowledge that his friends no longer trusted him was a bitter pill to swallow.
—bitterness noun [uncountable]
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 3)

■ nouns
   ▪ a bitter battle/dispute There was a bitter battle over the building of the new airport.
   ▪ a bitter fight/struggle The law was passed after a bitter fight that lasted nearly a decade.
   ▪ a bitter conflict The stage is set for a bitter conflict with trade unions.
   ▪ a bitter debate/argument The country now faces a bitter debate over the issue.
   ▪ bitter disagreement There were reports of bitter disagreement between the European Communities.
   ▪ bitter opposition The new tax aroused bitter opposition.
   ▪ a bitter rival/enemy (=a rival/enemy who you have strong feelings of dislike or anger about) The two men are bitter rivals for the party leadership.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ bitter having a strong sharp taste that is not sweet, like black coffee without sugar - used especially about chocolate, medicine etc: The dessert is made with a slightly bitter chocolate. | Hops give beer its distinctive bitter taste. | The medicine tasted bitter. | As the lettuce gets older, the leaves become more bitter.
   ▪ sharp having a taste that makes your tongue sting slightly: Rhubarb has quite a sharp taste. | The cheese has a pleasing colour and a pleasantly sharp flavour.
   ▪ sour having a usually unpleasant sharp acid taste, like the taste of a lemon, or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten – used especially about fruit, or about liquids that have gone bad: Some people say that the purpose of the lemon’s sour taste is to stop the fruit being eaten by animals. | Rachel sampled the wine. It was sour.
   ▪ acidic very sour – used especially about liquids or things made with fruits such as oranges, lemons, or grapes: Some fruit juices taste a bit acidic.
   ▪ tangy having a taste that is pleasantly strong or sharp, and that often tastes a little sweet as well: The ribs are cooked in a tangy barbecue sauce.
   ▪ tart having a taste that lacks sweetness – used especially about fruit such as apples, which you need to add sugar to: The pudding had rather a tart flavour. | The trees were covered with tart wild plums.

II

bitter² noun
1. [uncountable and countable] British English a type of dark beer that is popular in Britain, or a glass of this:
    A pint of bitter, please.
2. bitters [uncountable] a strong bitter liquid made from plants that is added to alcoholic drinks