From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbitterbit‧ter1 /ˈbɪtə $ -ər/ ●●○ S3 W3 adjective 1 ANGRY/UPSETANGRYfeeling angry, jealous, and upset because you think you have been treated unfairly → bitterlybitter about I feel very bitter about it. a bitter old man2 CAUSING UNHAPPINESS[only before noun]UNPLEASANT making you feel very unhappy and upset → bitterlya 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 FULL OF HATREDHATEa bitter argument, battle etc is one in which people oppose or criticize each other with strong feelings of hate and angerbitter 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 TASTECThaving a strong sharp taste, like black coffee without sugar → sour, sweet Enjoy the beer’s bitter taste as you slowly drink it. bitter chocolate► see thesaurus at taste5 COLDDNCOLDunpleasantly cold → bitterly a bitter wind the bitter cold of the Midwestern winters 6 → to the bitter end7 → a bitter pill (to swallow) —bitterness noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 3: a bitter argument, battle etc is one in which people oppose or criticize each other with strong feelings of hate and angernounsa bitter battle/disputeThere was a bitter battle over the building of the new airport.a bitter fight/struggleThe law was passed after a bitter fight that lasted nearly a decade.a bitter conflictThe stage is set for a bitter conflict with trade unions.a bitter debate/argumentThe country now faces a bitter debate over the issue.bitter disagreementThere were reports of bitter disagreement between the European Communities.bitter oppositionThe 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. THESAURUSbitter having a strong sharp taste that is not sweet, like black coffee without sugar – used especially about chocolate, medicine etcThe 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 slightlyRhubarb 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 badSome 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 grapesSome fruit juices taste a bit acidic.tangy having a taste that is pleasantly strong or sharp, and that often tastes a little sweet as wellThe 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 toThe pudding had rather a tart flavour.The trees were covered with tart wild plums.
Examples from the Corpus
bitter• Try not to burn the oil, it will make the sauce taste bitter.• The citron has the most beautiful fragrance of all the citrus fruits and its pith is not bitter.• What had he done to make Juliet so vengeful and bitter?• The medicine tasted bitter.• I used to be very bitter and angry, but I've gotten over it.• The extract is bitter but tolerable, and the root has the taste of a radish past its prime.• The wind was bitter, but when they lay down Glover felt the warmth of the sun.• strong, bitter coffee• Because he was literate and articulate, he showed a bitter contempt for the self-appointed intellectuals of the inter-war years.• The party suffered a bitter defeat in 1964.• There is no doubt that the outcome of that long campaign, the Act itself, was a bitter disappointment to working-class radicals.• a bitter east wind• There has been bitter fighting in the hills to the north of the capital.• She shot a bitter glance in his direction and left.• She loved him so much, and to realise that she was only an episode in his busy life was bitter indeed.• a bitter legal battle over custody of the children• The herb rue has a bitter taste, which makes it unpopular for cooking.• I ask if I might have some green tea and feel even better as I sip the bitter, warm liquid.bitter about• Jensen sounded bitter about his team's fourth straight loss.a bitter disappointment/blow• That decision, announced on 3 October, was a bitter disappointment.• The loss of that partner through death, either shortly before retirement or afterwards, comes as a bitter blow.• After the drama of Pye's water wall, this is all a bitter disappointment and something of a disgrace.• The result was a bitter disappointment for Wimbledon who could have scored on three occasions in the first half.• This was a bitter disappointment to Oliver, but his new friends were still as kind to him as ever.• He is certainly a bitter disappointment to people in this country.• There is no doubt that the outcome of that long campaign, the Act itself, was a bitter disappointment to working-class radicals.• It was a bitter blow when the trustees preferred the reprint.bitter dispute/battle/struggle etc• But a press backlash did get into gear, leaving a handful of diehard music writers to fight a bitter battle.• Now all sides were preparing for a bitter battle.• The biggest gains and the most bitter disputes arise over trades between north and south.• It is now the subject of a bitter dispute between the neighbouring republics.• But the Bolsheviks were determined to frustrate them and immediately after October a bitter struggle ensued between the workers and the party.• In the United States, an ever-more bitter battle had been fought around this issue since abortion was legalized in 1972.• They would not understand what a bitter struggle my whole life has been.bitter taste• Then look at each one very carefully, removing any yellowish pieces, which may give the finished dish a bitter taste.• The pills left a bitter taste, a raging thirst and pent-up energy for which there was no outlet.• She had tasted the fear of being cast out, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth.• Sweet as the victory over polio was, one medical historian wrote: It left a slightly bitter taste in many mouths.• But Kenny Brown's reply left a bitter taste in their mouths.• Even after swallowing it, its bitter taste lingered long in my mouth.• Right now the bitter taste matched her mood.bitter cold• The children have to walk to school in the bitter cold.• I have always thought pneumonia was the root of it all, contracted during that six-day match in the bitter cold.• Nothing for certain but the dark weather and the bitter cold.• Coming into it was like coming home on a bitter cold day to a bright, leaping fire.• The region was bitter cold in winter and was composed largely of woodland tracts veined heavily with water.• Plus it warms up rapidly on a bitter cold night.• I got dressed quickly in the bitter cold of the room, and washed when I could.• There was a bitter cold wind arising.• Unlike the flamboyant Ellet, he worked without fanfare, often in the bitter cold, without a break.bitterbitter2 noun 1 [countable, uncountable] British EnglishDFD a type of dark beer that is popular in Britain, or a glass of this A pint of bitter, please.► see thesaurus at taste2 → bittersOrigin bitter Old English biter 