bait

1 of 2

verb

ˈbāt

baited; baiting; baits

transitive verb

: to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks

bait minority groups

: to try to make angry with criticism or insults

baiting a politician during a debate

: tease

: to harass (a chained animal, such as a bear) with dogs usually for sport

: to attack by biting and tearing

dogs baiting a fox

: to furnish with bait (see bait entry 2)

bait a fishing line

bait a trap

: entice, lure

baiting prospective buyers

: to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the road

intransitive verb

archaic : to stop for food and rest when traveling

baiter noun

Synonyms

Verb

hassle
haze
heckle
needle
ride
taunt
tease

Noun

decoy
lure

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Verb baiting hooks with live worms The interviewer kept baiting the politician by asking him whether he was lying. Noun cheese used for bait in mousetraps Wait until the fish takes the bait. a wide selection of lures and baits

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

If using traps, bait them (peanut butter will work well), but don’t set them for several days.

oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2022 Those that aren’t worthy of aquariums are sold instead as bait or feeder fish.

Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Aug. 2022 The term comes from the practice of wiggling your fingers underwater like wet noodles to bait a catfish.

Matt Carney, Outside Online, 15 June 2022 Disney also shrank Jon Boyega's picture on Chinese movie posters and bait and switched the black audience marketing Finn as a Jedi.

Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 1 June 2022 Thanks to social media, everyday people are thrust into the role of performers, putting themselves forward at all times, hoping to bait the algorithms and, in turn, your eyes.

New York Times, 4 Apr. 2022 China’s intelligence services have also used the pilgrimage to bait Uighurs in safe European jurisdictions.

Time, 24 Mar. 2022 Following footprints to better bait Phishing attacks have doubled from early 2020.

Ravi Sen, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2022 As Curry ignored Porter’s efforts to bait him, Curry’s teammates had a sense of what was to come.

Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2022

Noun

Normally, a transformative performance in a biopic about a famous actress seems like pure Oscar bait that would earn her an instant spot, sight unseen.

Brendan Morrow, The Week, 16 Sep. 2022 But the pace is uneven and there’s a lot of fishing for response among viewers when they haven’t been offered much bait.

John Anderson, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The rule is one rod per person, hook and line only, and no live bait.

Katie Jackson, Outside Online, 6 Sep. 2022 Miami – If not for the Nationals, the Marlins would be fish bait for bigger prey.

Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 John Hoyer, of Orono, Minn., however, has pioneered the technique of casting plastic swim baits to weed beds for walleye, an unusual way to hook trophy walleye without using live bait.

D'arcy Egan, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Those plaintiffs include Laguna Beach coastal property owners, a Huntington Beach surf school, a Seal Beach bait and tackle store, and several groups of fishing and seafood sales companies.

Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022 The ferocious predators attack schools of anchovy-size fish like packs of wolves, which attracts terns and gulls that pluck the fleeing bait off the surface of the water.

The Editors, Outside Online, 24 Aug. 2022 The state’s accusations spanned a five-year period and included charges of wasting moose meat, not accompanying clients, killing bears using bait to lure them, and making use of a plane and electronic communications to spot big game.

Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait, bītan to bite — more at bite

Noun

Middle English, from Old Norse beit pasturage & beita food; akin to Old English bītan to bite

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

单词	baits
释义	bait 1 of 2 verb ˈbāt baited; baiting; baits transitive verb 1 a : to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks bait minority groups : to try to make angry with criticism or insults baiting a politician during a debate b : tease 2 a : to harass (a chained animal, such as a bear) with dogs usually for sport b : to attack by biting and tearing dogs baiting a fox 3 a : to furnish with bait (see bait entry 2) bait a fishing line bait a trap b : entice, lure baiting prospective buyers 4 : to give food and drink to (an animal) especially on the road intransitive verb archaic : to stop for food and rest when traveling baiter noun bait 2 of 2 noun 1 a : something (such as food) used in luring especially to a hook or trap using worms for bait b : a poisonous material placed where it will be eaten by harmful or objectionable animals 2 : lure, temptation using bargains as bait for shoppers Synonyms Verb hassle haze heckle needle ride taunt tease Noun decoy lure See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb baiting hooks with live worms The interviewer kept baiting the politician by asking him whether he was lying. Noun cheese used for bait in mousetraps Wait until the fish takes the bait. a wide selection of lures and baits Recent Examples on the Web Verb If using traps, bait them (peanut butter will work well), but don’t set them for several days. oregonlive, 10 Sep. 2022 Those that aren’t worthy of aquariums are sold instead as bait or feeder fish. Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Aug. 2022 The term comes from the practice of wiggling your fingers underwater like wet noodles to bait a catfish. Matt Carney, Outside Online, 15 June 2022 Disney also shrank Jon Boyega's picture on Chinese movie posters and bait and switched the black audience marketing Finn as a Jedi. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 1 June 2022 Thanks to social media, everyday people are thrust into the role of performers, putting themselves forward at all times, hoping to bait the algorithms and, in turn, your eyes. New York Times, 4 Apr. 2022 China’s intelligence services have also used the pilgrimage to bait Uighurs in safe European jurisdictions. Time, 24 Mar. 2022 Following footprints to better bait Phishing attacks have doubled from early 2020. Ravi Sen, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2022 As Curry ignored Porter’s efforts to bait him, Curry’s teammates had a sense of what was to come. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 31 Jan. 2022 Noun Normally, a transformative performance in a biopic about a famous actress seems like pure Oscar bait that would earn her an instant spot, sight unseen. Brendan Morrow, The Week, 16 Sep. 2022 But the pace is uneven and there’s a lot of fishing for response among viewers when they haven’t been offered much bait. John Anderson, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 The rule is one rod per person, hook and line only, and no live bait. Katie Jackson, Outside Online, 6 Sep. 2022 Miami – If not for the Nationals, the Marlins would be fish bait for bigger prey. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 John Hoyer, of Orono, Minn., however, has pioneered the technique of casting plastic swim baits to weed beds for walleye, an unusual way to hook trophy walleye without using live bait. D'arcy Egan, cleveland, 2 Sep. 2022 Those plaintiffs include Laguna Beach coastal property owners, a Huntington Beach surf school, a Seal Beach bait and tackle store, and several groups of fishing and seafood sales companies. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2022 The ferocious predators attack schools of anchovy-size fish like packs of wolves, which attracts terns and gulls that pluck the fleeing bait off the surface of the water. The Editors, Outside Online, 24 Aug. 2022 The state’s accusations spanned a five-year period and included charges of wasting moose meat, not accompanying clients, killing bears using bait to lure them, and making use of a plane and electronic communications to spot big game. Zaz Hollander, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Aug. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Verb Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait, bītan to bite — more at bite Noun Middle English, from Old Norse beit pasturage & beita food; akin to Old English bītan to bite First Known Use Verb 13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Noun 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing bait fish or cut bait red-bait bait and switch fish or cut bait red-bait bait and switch Kids Definition bait 1 of 2 noun ˈbāt : something that is used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught bait 2 of 2 verb baited; baiting 1 : to put something (as food) on or in to attract and catch fish or animals bait a trap 2 : to torment by mean or unjust attacks They baited him by using a nickname he hated. baits 1 of 2 noun plural of bait 1 as in lures something used to attract animals to a hook or into a trap cheese is the traditional bait for trapping mice Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance lures traps hooks decoys scents nets trolls snares spinners ambushes plugs appeals incentives attractions seductions stool pigeons temptations draws enticements pulls entanglements seducements calls entrapments Antonyms & Near Antonyms repellants repellents 2 as in temptations something that persuades one to perform an action for pleasure or gain the promise of free vacation is surefire bait to get people to agree to be chaperones for school trips Synonyms & Similar Words lures temptations incentives attractions stimuli enticements allurements motivations siren songs appeals boosts come-ons impetuses inducements decoys traps seductions turn-ons impulses snares encouragements goads calls persuasions mousetraps spurs seducements entrapments Antonyms & Near Antonyms warnings alarms notices alerts cautions forewarnings alarums See More baits 2 of 2 verb present tense third-person singular of bait 1 as in taunts to attack repeatedly with mean put-downs or insults I wished the candidates would stop baiting each other and instead address the real issues Synonyms & Similar Words taunts teases needles mocks rides hazes ridicules annoys tortures bullies plagues picks on bugs heckles bothers badgers jibes dogs tests gibes hassles irritates frosts goads grates nettles hounds troubles tries ruffles narks riles pesters harasses torments spites rasps gripes nags peeves galls makes game of jeers disturbs itches vexes irks aggravates beleaguers gets harries agitates aggrieves piques exasperates frets hagrides derides discomforts hectors persecutes bedevils browbeats terrorizes perturbs puts out chafes burns (up) gnaws (at) hacks (off) 2 as in tempts to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage the investment scheme cunningly baits the greedy and the unscrupulous Synonyms & Similar Words lures tempts seduces decoys entices persuades traps leads on allures betrays beguiles solicits snares snows meshes fascinates enchants charms tangles inveigles entraps draws in enmeshes catches ensnares wiles immeshes magnetizes ropes (in) captivates bewitches Antonyms & Near Antonyms alerts cautions warns wards (off) forewarns repulses drives (away or off) turns away See More
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bait

verb

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing bait

Kids Definition

noun

verb

noun

verb