bait
6 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
baits
plural
baits
Britannica Dictionary definition of BAIT
:
something (such as a piece of food) that is used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught
— often used figuratively
[noncount]
-
We always use live bait [=worms that are alive] when we fish.
-
cheese used for/as bait in mousetraps
-
Wait until the fish takes the bait.
[count]
-
a wide selection of lures and baits
-
using bargains as bait for shoppers [=using bargains to attract shoppers]
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The police waited for the bank robbers to take the bait. [=to be tricked into doing the thing that would cause them to be trapped or caught]
-
(chiefly Brit) The interviewer kept asking the politician whether he was lying, and he rose to the bait by getting angry.
fish or cut bait
2
bait
/ˈbeɪt/
verb
baits;
baited;
baiting
2
bait
/ˈbeɪt/
verb
baits;
baited;
baiting
Britannica Dictionary definition of BAIT
[+ object]
1
:
to put a piece of food on (a hook) or in (a trap) in order to attract and catch fish or animals
-
She baited the mousetraps with pieces of cheese. = She used cheese to bait the traps.
-
baiting hooks with live worms
-
a baited hook/trap
2
:
to try to make (someone) angry by using criticism or insults
—
see also race-baiting
-
The interviewer kept baiting the politician by asking him whether he was lying.
3
:
to use dogs to make (an animal, such as a bear or bull) angry or afraid
— used in combination
-
bear-baiting
-
bull-baiting
