bait

9 definitions • 11 examples

a small amount of food on a hook (= curved piece of wire) or in a special device used to attract and catch a fish or animal:

They were digging up worms to use for bait.

We put down some poisoned bait to kill the rats.

something that is said or offered to people in order to make them react in a particular way:

Free holidays were offered as bait to customers.

to intentionally make a person angry by saying or doing things to annoy them:

Ignore him - he's just baiting you.

I suspect he was just baiting me.

to make dogs attack an animal for cruel entertainment:

We used to bait bears and make children work in mines, but nobody wants to return to those days, do they?

to put food on a hook (= curved piece of wire) or in a special device to attract and catch a fish or animal:

Do you have any stale cheese that I can bait the mousetrap with?

a small amount of food used to attract and catch a fish or animal:

The fishermen bought some worms to use as bait.

fig. Bait is also anything used to persuade someone to do something:

Lawyers making the investment offering will find out today whether someone is ready to take the bait.

put bait on a hook or in a trap:

You can bait the mousetrap with a piece of cheese.

to intentionally make someone angry by saying or doing annoying things:

She enjoys baiting her brother by teasing him about his girlfriend.