bait

1. (transitive) To attract with bait; to entice.transitive

2. (transitive) To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.Examples: "a crooked pin […] baited with a vile earthworm"transitive

3. (transitive) To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.transitive

4. (transitive) To target a pest species by laying baits.transitive

1. (transitive) To set dogs on (an animal etc.) to bite or worry; to attack with dogs, especially for sport.Examples: "to bait a bear with dogs"; "to bait a bull"transitive

2. (transitive) To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.Examples: "I remember once before, a mad woman, from about Alnwick, by name baited me with letters and plans — first for charity for herself or some protégé — I gave my guinea— then she wanted to have half the profits of a novel which I was to publish under my name and auspices."; "But [US Vice President J.D.] Vance, the champion of diplomacy, shouldn’t have baited a war-weary man fighting for the survival of his country in the first place."Synonyms: badger, hound, badger, bait, bedevil, beleaguer, persecute, bugtransitive

3. (transitive, archaic) To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.Examples: "And than they com into a lowe medow that was full of swete floures, and there thes noble knyghtes bayted her horses."; "The Sunne that measures heauen all day long, / At night doth baite his steedes the Ocean waues emong."; "Before I could move in it, however, I had to wait until we stopped to bait the flagging horses, which we did about noon at the head of the valley."archaictransitive

4. (intransitive) Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.Examples: "King Cyrus, that he might more speedily receave news from al parts of his Empire (which was of exceeding great length), would needs have it tried how far a horse could in a day goe outright without baiting, at which distance he caused stations to be set up, and men to have fresh horses ready for al such as came to him."; "[H]orses' playful neigh, / From rustic's whips, and plough, and waggon, free, / Baiting in careless freedom o'er the leas, / Or turn'd to knap each other at their ease."intransitive

5. (intransitive) (of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.Examples: "For evil news rides post, while good news baits."; "My Lord’s coach convey’d me to Bury, and thence baiting at Newmarket, stepping in at Audley End to see that house againe, I slept at Bishops Strotford, and the next day home."; "When he [a servant's master] baits at noon, enter the inn gate before him, and call the ostler to hold your master's horse while he alights."intransitive

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey.Examples: "Kites that baite and beate."intransitiveobsolete

1. (MLE) Obvious; blatant.Examples: "I've been at home all day / Cloning £50 notes, this is sick / But it's a bit bait / Cause all the serial numbers are the same / So I can't spend them in the same place"Multicultural-London-English

2. (MLE) Well-known; famous; renowned.Examples: "My face is bait, I can't hide it"Multicultural-London-English