bis

Bis is a term with multiple meanings across languages, music, and science. In music, bis denotes an encore or an additional piece performed after the main program. Derived from the French word bis meaning twice, it is sometimes used by audiences or in program notes to request a repetition of a performance. In practice, it signals that the performer should play again.

In language and nomenclature, bis is a Latin adverb meaning twice. It serves as the source of the prefix bis- in English and other languages, used to indicate doubling or repetition, as in bisect and other compounds. In chemistry and related fields, the multiplicative prefix bis- precedes a repeated group to show two identical substituents attached to a central atom, for example, bis(2-chloroethyl) ether. The same root appears in geometry (bisector), the line or plane that divides an angle or segment into two equal parts.

Acronyms: When capitalized as BIS, it is an acronym for various organizations and institutions, notably the Bank for International Settlements and the Bureau of Industry and Security in the United States Department of Commerce. It may also refer to educational institutions such as British international schools, depending on context.