bait Meaning & Definition
What Does Bait Mean?
Bait is used as a verb meaning to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks. It can also mean tease. As a noun, it means something (such as food) used in luring especially to a hook or trap.
Word Facts for Bait
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈbāt/ |
| Synonyms | cod, tease and twit |
| Antonyms | repellent, alarm and alert |
| Plural | baits |
| Verb forms | baits, baiting, baited |
Bait Definition (Verb)
- to persecute or exasperate with unjust, malicious, or persistent attacks : to try to make angry with criticism or insults
bait minority groups / 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: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
- to stop for food and rest when traveling
Bait as a Noun
- something (such as food) used in luring especially to a hook or trap
using worms for bait
- a poisonous material placed where it will be eaten by harmful or objectionable animals
- lure, temptation
using bargains as bait for shoppers
Synonyms of Bait
Antonyms of Bait
Bait in a Sentence
attach bait to a hook
catch a few using bait
clickbait
ragebait
engagement bait
Please stop posting bait, or I will have to mute you.
queerbait
sequel bait
Netflix bait
somno bait
snuff bait
to bait a bear with dogs
to bait a bull
to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull
bait minority groups
baiting a politician during a debate
dogs baiting a fox
bait a fishing line
bait a trap
baiting prospective buyers
using worms for bait
using bargains as bait for shoppers
cheese is the traditional bait for trapping mice
the promise of free vacation is surefire bait to get people to agree to be chaperones for school trips
I wished the candidates would stop baiting each other and instead address the real issues
the investment scheme cunningly baits the greedy and the unscrupulous
bait minority groups / baiting a politician during a debate
bait a fishing line / bait a trap
Word Forms & Grammar
bait·ed
bait·ing
baits
bait·er noun
bait
baited
baiter
baiters
baiting
bait (countable and uncountable, plural baits)
bait (third-person singular simple present baits, present participle baiting, simple past and past participle baited)
bait (comparative baiter, superlative baitest)
Words That Rhyme With Bait
Origin of Bait
Origin 1: Middle English, from Old Norse beita; akin to Old English bǣtan to bait, bītan to bite bite
Origin 2: Middle English, from Old Norse beit pasturage & beita food; akin to Old English bītan to bite
Origin 3: 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.
Origin 4: From Middle English bayten, baiten, beiten, from Old Norse beita (“to bait, cause to bite, feed, hunt”), from Proto-Germanic *baitijaną (“to cause to bite, bridle”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”). Cognate with Icelandic beita (“to bait”), Swedish beta (“to bait, pasture, graze”), German beizen (“to cause to bite, bait”), Old English bǣtan (“to bait, hunt, bridle, bit”).
Origin 5: French battre de l'aile or des ailes, to flap or flutter.
Origin 6: Etymology unknown.
First Known Use
13th centuryt
14th century
Quick Answers About Bait
Is bait a verb or a noun?
Bait is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for bait?
Close synonyms of bait are cod, tease and twit. See the full list of bait synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of bait?
The opposite of bait can be expressed with words like repellent, alarm, alert and caution.
What is the plural of bait?
The plural of bait is baits.
What is the past tense of bait?
The past tense of bait is baited. The present participle is baiting.