bit‧ter 1 S3 W3 / bɪtə $ -ər / 形容词

1 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 [仅用于名词前] 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 名词 [不可数名词]

COLLOCATIONS

名词

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.