[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bait/)

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# bait

noun (bait, uncountable; a bait, rare); verb (bait, baits, baited, baiting)

«bait» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Food put on a hook or in a trap to catch fish or animals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#m1)
2. Something used to tempt a person into a trap or trick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#m2)
3. To put bait on a hook or in a trap. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#m3)
4. To tease or annoy someone on purpose to make them angry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#m4)
5. (slang) Obvious, too easy to notice; or clickbait meant to fool you online. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#m5)
6. Bait can also mean a snack or a light meal, especially one eaten at work or on a journey (old-fashioned). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#m6)

### In the lessons

In everyday life: fishing, mouse traps. Safety: online «bait» or «clickbait» tricks people into clicking; scammers use bait such as free prizes. Phrases: take the bait (fall for the trick), bait and switch, clickbait.

### Examples

- We used worms as bait to catch fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x1)
- Dad baited the mousetrap with cheese. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x2)
- The free phone offer was just bait to get your details. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x3)
- Don't take the bait when he teases you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x4)
- That headline is pure clickbait. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x5)
- The bully kept baiting him to start a fight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x6)
- The fish nibbled the bait and swam away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/#x7)

### Note

Bait is usually uncountable: some bait, not a bait. Do not confuse with «bate» (in «with bated breath», not baited). Taking the bait = being tricked.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bait» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bait/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bait» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bait.html) on Mova free.