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Pronunciation: (bāt), [key]
1. food, or some substitute, used as a lure in fishing, trapping, etc.
2. a poisoned lure used in exterminating pests.
3. an allurement; enticement: Employees were lured with the bait of annual bonuses.
4. an object for pulling molten or liquefied material, as glass, from a vat or the like by adhesion.
5. South Midland and Southern U.S.
a. a large or sufficient quantity or amount: He fetched a good bait of wood.
b. an excessive quantity or amount.
6. Brit. Slang.food.

1. to prepare (a hook or trap) with bait.
2. to entice by deception or trickery so as to entrap or destroy: using fake signal lights to bait the ships onto the rocks.
3. to attract, tempt, or captivate.
4. to set dogs upon (an animal) for sport.
5. to worry, torment, or persecute, esp. with malicious remarks: a nasty habit of baiting defenseless subordinates.
6. to tease: They love to bait him about his gaudy ties.
7. to feed and water (a horse or other animal), esp. during a journey.

v.i. Archaic.
1. to stop for food or refreshment during a journey.
2. (of a horse or other animal) to take food; feed.


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