bait

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)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”

2. (countable, uncountable)Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.
3. (countable, uncountable)Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.

   “One of the “girls” used in this way, Pamella Bordes, later spoke of being “part of an enormous group … used as sexual bait.””

4. (countable, uncountable)Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.

   “queerbait”

   “sequel bait”

   “Netflix bait”

5. (countable, uncountable, vulgar)Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.

   “somno bait”

   “snuff bait”

6. (countable, uncountable)A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.

   “A short stop, but no refreshment. Such baits are frequently given by the natives of the principality to their keffels, or horses, particularly after climbing a hill.”

   “The tediousness of a two hours' bait at Petty-France, in which there was nothing to be done but to eat without being hungry, and loiter about without any thing to see, next followed […]”

7. (Durham, Geordie, countable, uncountable)A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
8. (East-Anglia, countable, uncountable)A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
9. (Northern-England, countable, uncountable)A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
10. (countable, uncountable)A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
11. (Internet, countable, uncountable)A post intended to elicit a, usually strong or negative, reaction from others.

    “Please stop posting bait, or I will have to mute you.”

verb

1. (transitive)To attract with bait; to entice.
2. (transitive)To affix bait to a trap or a fishing hook or fishing line.

   “a crooked pin […] baited with a vile earthworm”

3. (transitive)To lay baits in an environment to control pest species.
4. (transitive)To target a pest species by laying baits.
5. (transitive)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”

6. (transitive)To intentionally annoy, torment, or threaten by constant rebukes or threats; to harass.

   “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.”

7. (archaic, transitive)To feed and water (a horse or other animal), especially during a journey.

   “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.”

8. (intransitive)Of a horse or other animal: to take food, especially during a journey.

   “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.”

9. (intransitive)(of a person) To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment during a journey.

   “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.”

   “At Break of Day we arose, and after a short Repast march’d on till Noon, when we baited among some shady Trees near a Pond of Water […]”

10. (intransitive, obsolete)To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a hawk when she stoops to her prey.

    “Kites that baite and beate.”

adj

1. (Multicultural-London-English)Obvious; blatant.

   “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”

2. (Multicultural-London-English)Well-known; famous; renowned.

   “My face is bait, I can't hide it”