bait

noun
UK: /beɪt/
US: /beɪt/

  1. Food used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught.

    1. I used worms as bait to catch fish in the river today. [ ] [ ]
    2. The fisherman cast his line, hoping the fish would take the bait he prepared. [ ] [ ]

  2. Something used to trick someone into doing something.

    1. The offer seemed too good to be true, it was bait for a scam. [ ] [ ]
    2. She used flattery as bait, hoping to get him to agree to her proposal. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

lure temptation provoke harass
bait verb

  1. To put bait on a hook or in a trap to attract animals.

    1. I baited the hook with a worm before casting my line. [ ] [ ]
    2. He baited the trap with cheese to catch the mouse in the kitchen. [ ] [ ]

  2. To intentionally annoy or provoke someone.

    1. Don't bait him; he's already in a bad mood today. [ ] [ ]
    2. The older kids used to bait the younger ones on the school playground. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "bait" in English means: Food used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught., Something used to trick someone into doing something..

The phonetic transcription of "bait" is /beɪt/ in British English and /beɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "bait": lure, temptation, provoke, harass.

Example usage of "bait": "I used worms as bait to catch fish in the river today.". More examples on the page.