BAIT
Dictionary entry overview: What does bait mean?
• BAIT (noun)
The noun BAIT has 2 senses:
1. anything that serves as an enticement
2. something used to lure victims into danger
Familiarity information: BAIT used as a noun is rare.
• BAIT (verb)
The verb BAIT has 3 senses:
1. harass with persistent criticism or carping
2. lure, entice, or entrap with bait
3. attack with dogs or set dogs upon
Familiarity information: BAIT used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• BAIT (noun)
Meaning:
Anything that serves as an enticement
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
bait; come-on; sweetener; lure; hook
Hypernyms ("bait" is a kind of...):
enticement; temptation (something that seduces or has the quality to seduce)
Meaning:
Something used to lure victims into danger
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
bait; decoy; lure
Hypernyms ("bait" is a kind of...):
device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "bait"):
chum (bait consisting of chopped fish and fish oils that are dumped overboard to attract fish)
fish lure; fisherman's lure ((angling) any bright artificial bait consisting of plastic or metal mounted with hooks and trimmed with feathers)
ground bait (bait scattered on the water to attract fish)
stool pigeon (a dummy pigeon used to decoy others)
Holonyms ("bait" is a part of...):
trap (a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned)
• BAIT (verb)
Meaning:
Harass with persistent criticism or carping
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
tantalise; taunt; razz; twit; bait; tantalize; tease; cod; rag; ride; rally
Context examples:
The children teased the new teacher / Don't ride me so hard over my failure / His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie
Hypernyms (to "bait" is one way to...):
bemock; mock (treat with contempt)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bait"):
barrack; flout; gibe; jeer; scoff (laugh at with contempt and derision)
banter; chaff; jolly; josh; kid (be silly or tease one another)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Lure, entice, or entrap with bait
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "bait" is one way to...):
entice; lure; tempt (provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Meaning:
Attack with dogs or set dogs upon
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Hypernyms (to "bait" is one way to...):
assail; assault; attack; set on (attack someone physically or emotionally)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
