bait

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
2. (countable, uncountable) Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
3. (countable, uncountable) Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something
4. (countable, uncountable) Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something
5. (countable, uncountable) A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
6. (Durham, Geordie, countable, uncountable) A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
7. (East-Anglia, countable, uncountable) A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
8. (Northern-England, countable, uncountable) A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
9. (countable, uncountable) A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
10. (Internet, countable, uncountable) A post intended to elicit a, usually strong or negative, reaction from others.

Verb

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

Verb

1. (transitive) To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.
2. (transitive) To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
3. (archaic, transitive) To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
4. (intransitive) Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.
5. (intransitive) (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. (Multicultural-London-English) Obvious; blatant.
2. (Multicultural-London-English) 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

Translations

esca

appât

cebo

Köder

isca

δόλωμα

carnada

lokaas

aas

esquer

adescamento

ködern

esca

🍽️

leurre

Pronounced as (IPA)

/beɪt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bayte

Cognate with German: Beize

Cognate with Old English: bāt

Inherited from Middle English: bayten

Cognate with Icelandic: beita

Cognate with Swedish: beta

Cognate with German: beizen

Cognate with Old English: bǣtan

In summary

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”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.