bait

Meaning

Noun

1. Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
2. Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
3. Anything which allures; something used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something
4. Anything which allures; something used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something
5. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
6. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
7. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
8. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
9. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
10. A post intended to get a rise out of others.

Verb

1. To attract with bait; to entice.
2. To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.
3. To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
4. To target a pest species by laying baits.

Verb

1. To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.
2. To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
3. To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
4. (of a horse or other animal) To take food, especially during a journey.
5. (of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.

Verb

To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey.

Adj

1. Obvious; blatant.
2. Well-known; famous; renowned.

Synonyms

lure

decoy

enticement

allurement

entice

temptation

inducement

attraction

food

🍽️

attract

tempt

allure

tease

tantalise

hook

🪝

tantalize

twit

badger

🦡

beleaguer

cod

come-on

feed

heckle

hound

rag

rally

razz

ride

seduce

seduction

sweetener

taunt

torment

trap

🪤

hector

fodder

carrot

🥕

foot

🦶

harass

harrow

harry

torture

captivate

ledger-bait

imitation

cakes

killed

cajole

obsess

pester

plague

rack

afflict

wile

worry

rib

animal food

scourge

bark at

fishing pole

snare

sop

steerer

stool pigeon

attract by deceptive means

blarney

blandish

honeypot

biscuits

teaser

bedevil

agonize

deceive

dap

eat

🍽️

ensnare

dangle

catchword

entrap

excruciate

fake

prey on

fishhook

fit

flay

fly

✈️

Pronounced as (IPA)

/beɪt/

Etymology

From Middle English bayte, bait, beite, from Old Norse beita (“food, bait”), from Proto-Germanic *baitō (“that which is bitten, bait”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”). Cognate with German Beize (“mordant, corrosive fluid; marinade; hunting”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.