Biting is an action characterized by a set of teeth closing down on an object. It is a common zoological behavior observed in various toothed animals, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and arthropods. In humans, biting is most commonly associated with the process of chewing food.
The physical force required for biting is generated by myocytic contraction of the muscles of mastication. This process initiates a preparatory jaw abduction to open the mouth, followed by a rapid adduction that moves the top and bottom teeth toward each other. Biting serves as a primary function for many large organisms, enabling them to forage, hunt, eat, build, play, fight, and protect themselves.
Beyond nutrition, biting can serve various social and survival purposes in animals, such as carrying objects, preparing food for offspring, removing ectoparasites, or engaging in social grooming. It may also manifest as a form of physical aggression driven by predatory or territorial intentions. In humans, the tendency to bite one another can occur among both children and adults.