bait
Third Person
baits
Present Participle
baiting
Past Tense
baited
Past Participle
baited
1
to provoke or tease someone persistently with criticism or mocking remarks
transitive
- He constantly baited his coworker with snide remarks.
- She often baits her siblings with teasing remarks.
- The bully is baiting his victim right now.
- She has baited her classmates with sarcastic comments.
- She was baiting her sister during the argument.
2
to deliberately torment or harass a trapped or restrained animal, often by letting dogs attack it
transitive
- The hunters used to bait animals in the wild to test the dogs' strength.
- It was cruel to bait the bear by allowing dogs to chase it.
- The hunters were caught baiting a defenseless fox with a pack of dogs.
- The law was passed to prevent people from baiting bears with trained dogs.
- Baiting animals in this way causes unnecessary pain and suffering.
3
to place food or other attractants on a hook, trap, or net to lure fish or animals as prey
transitive
- They baited the fishing hook with a worm to catch trout.
- The trap was baited with cheese to lure the mouse inside.
- She carefully baited the net with small fish to attract larger ones.
- The hunter baited the area with grain to attract deer.
- He baited the hook with a shiny lure to tempt the fish.