A tidbit is a small, interesting piece of something: a tiny bite of food or a small bit of information. At a party, you might eat tidbits of cheese on crackers. When your teacher shares a fascinating detail about ancient Egypt that wasn't in the textbook, that's a tidbit of knowledge.

The word carries a sense of something choice or special, something worth savoring. A tidbit is usually selected for being particularly interesting or appealing. When someone says “I heard an interesting tidbit about our principal,” they mean a small but noteworthy detail, like learning she once won a national science competition. Food tidbits are small enough to pop in your mouth in one bite, but tasty enough that you want more.

You might also see the spelling titbit, which is more common in British English, but tidbit is the standard American spelling. Either way, the word suggests something small, pleasant, and worth sharing.