# bitting

Pronunciation: say "BIT-ing" /ˈbɪtɪŋ/

## Noun

1. The shaped, grooved part of a key that engages a lock's internal tumblers and lets the mechanism turn.
   - Simple: The cut, grooved part of a key that lines up the pins inside a lock so it can turn.
   - _A worn bitting can prevent the pins from aligning, leaving the key stuck in the lock._
   - _The duplicator scans the original key's bitting and reproduces each cut on a fresh blank._

## Verb

2. Present participle of bit. — present participle and gerund of bit
   - Simple: The -ing form of bit. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.
   - _The trainer was bitting the mare in the round pen when the rain started._
   - _Bitting the colt patiently over several sessions paid off by the end of the week._
3. Present participle of bitt. — present participle and gerund of bitt
   - Simple: Present participle of bitt. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.
   - _Deckhands were bitting the chain as the captain called for the anchor to hold._
   - _Bitting the cable securely kept the vessel steady against the rising tide._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/bitting (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).