bait.
Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
Meaning & usage
Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
attach bait to a hook
catch a few using bait
Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.
Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something. Something that lures or entices a specified group.
queerbait
sequel bait
Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something. Someone that attracts or entices a specified sex act being done to them.
somno bait
snuff bait
A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment. A packed lunch - the bite to eat a worker took with them to eat.
A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment. A small meal taken mid-morning while farming.
A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment. A miner's packed meal.
A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment. A light or hasty luncheon.
A post intended to elicit a, usually strong or negative, reaction from others.
Please stop posting bait, or I will have to mute you.
Where this word comes from
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt Proto-Germanic *bītaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *baitijaną Old Norse beitabor. Middle English bayte English bait 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.
To attract with bait; to entice.
To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.
To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
To target a pest species by laying baits.
Where this word comes from
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt Proto-Germanic *bītaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *baitijaną Old Norse beitabor. Middle English bayte English bait 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.
To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.
to bait a bear with dogs
to bait a bull
To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.
To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.
Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.
(of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.
Where this word comes from
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”).
To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey.
Where this word comes from
French battre de l'aile or des ailes, to flap or flutter.
Obvious; blatant.
Well-known; famous; renowned.
Where this word comes from
Etymology unknown.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.