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bait

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Bait is to upset through saying and/or doing something that will annoy or hurt another. (verb)

An example of bait is when an investigator is interviewing a suspect, and he says insulting and demeaning things to get the person upset in order to judge his reactions.
An example of bait is to whip a dog mercilessly, causing him to attack and bite another dog in a fight.

Bait is to tempt someone or something. (verb)

An example of bait is setting out delicious smelling cinnamon rolls for sampling in an attempt to get people to buy more cinnamon rolls.

Bait is a person, place, or thing used to attract. (noun)

An example of bait is the worm used on the end of a pole to attract fish.
An example of bait is the poisonous trap used for killing ants in the house.
An example of bait is a sheep left out in a field in order to lure the wolf.

See bait in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

1. to set attacking dogs against: people formerly baited chained bears for sport
2. to attack as such dogs do
to torment or harass with unprovoked, vicious, repeated attacks
to tease or goad, esp. so as to provoke a reaction
to put food, etc. on (a hook or trap) to lure animals or fish
to lure; tempt; entice
Archaic to feed (animals) during a break in a journey

intransitive verb

Archaic to stop for food during a journey

noun

food, etc. put on a hook or trap to lure fish or animals
anything used as a lure; enticement
☆ Dialectal a large amount: we wolfed down a bait of huckleberries
Archaic a stop for rest or food during a journey

Related Forms:

baiter noun

See bait in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(bāt)

noun

a. Food or other lure placed on a hook or in a trap and used in the taking of fish, birds, or other animals.
b. Something, such as a worm, used for this purpose.
An enticement; a temptation.
Archaic A stop for food or rest during a trip.

verb bait·ed, bait·ing, baits

verb, transitive

To place a lure in (a trap) or on (a fishing hook).
To entice, especially by trickery or strategy.
To set dogs upon (a chained animal, for example) for sport.
To attack or torment, especially with persistent insults, criticism, or ridicule.
To tease.
To feed (an animal), especially on a journey.

verb, intransitive
Archaic

To stop for food or rest during a trip.

Related Forms:

baitˈer noun

Usage Note: The word baited is sometimes incorrectly substituted for the etymologically correct but unfamiliar word bated (“abated; suspended”) in the expression bated breath.

(bāt)

verb

Variant of bate².

Learn more about bait

» bait synonyms

» BAIT abbreviations & acronyms

» bait phrase meanings

» bait sentence examples

» bait quote examples

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