bait
bait [bait baits baited baiting] noun, verb BrE [beɪt] NAmE [beɪt]
noun uncountable, countable
1. food put on a hook to catch fish or in nets, traps, etc. to catch animals or birds
•Live worms are used as bait.
•The fish took the bait.
2. a person or thing that is used to catch sb or to attract them, for example to make them do what you want
•He had chosen the right bait to persuade her to go.
•The police used him as bait to trap the killers.
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse beit ‘pasture, food’, beita ‘to hunt or chase’.
Example Bank:
•We hope that potential investors will take the bait.
•We'll put out the bait and see what happens.
•She covered her face and began to sob, but he wouldn't rise to the bait.
•The player was unable to resist the bait dangled in front of him by United.
verb
1. ~ sth (with sth) to place food on a hook, in a trap, etc. in order to attract or catch an animal
•He baited the trap with a piece of meat.
2. ~ sb to deliberately try to make sb angry by making cruel or insulting remarks
•The soldiers remained calm even though the crowd was baiting them.
3. -baiting (in compound nouns)the activity of attacking a wild animal with dogs
•bear-baiting
•badger-baiting
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse beit ‘pasture, food’, beita ‘to hunt or chase’.
|
|
