bait

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
bait
    n 1: anything that serves as an enticement [syn: {bait}, {come-
         on}, {hook}, {lure}, {sweetener}]
    2: something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so
       they can be trapped or killed [syn: {bait}, {decoy}, {lure}]
    v 1: harass with persistent criticism or carping; "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" [syn: {tease}, {razz}, {rag}, {cod},
         {tantalize}, {tantalise}, {bait}, {taunt}, {twit}, {rally},
         {ride}]
    2: lure, entice, or entrap with bait
    3: attack with dogs or set dogs upon
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bait \Bait\ (b[=a]t), v. i.
   To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment
   of one's self or one's beasts, on a journey.
   [1913 Webster]

         Evil news rides post, while good news baits. --Milton.
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         My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting
         at Newmarket.                            --Evelyn.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bait \Bait\ (b[=a]t), n. [Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin
   to AS. b[=a]t food, Sw. bete. See {Bait}, v. t.]
   1. Any substance, esp. food, used in catching fish, or other
      animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, inclosure, or
      net.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Anything which allures; a lure; enticement; temptation.
      --Fairfax.
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   3. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a
      journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
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   4. A light or hasty luncheon.
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   {Bait bug} (Zool.), a crustacean of the genus {Hippa} found
      burrowing in sandy beaches. See {Anomura}.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bait \Bait\ (b[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baited}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Baiting}.] [OE. baiten, beit[=e]n, to feed, harass, fr.
   Icel. beita, orig., to cause to bite, fr. b[imac]ta.
   [root]87. See {Bite}.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or torment for
      sport; as, to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull.
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   2. To give a portion of food and drink to, upon the road; as,
      to bait horses. --Holland.
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   3. To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or hook.
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            A crooked pin . . . baited with a vile earthworm.
                                                  --W. Irving.
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from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bait \Bait\ (b[=a]t), v. i. [F. battre de l'aile (or des ailes),
   to flap or flutter. See {Batter}, v. t.]
   To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a
   hawk when she stoops to her prey. "Kites that bait and beat."
   --Shak.
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from The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906)
BAIT, n.  A preparation that renders the hook more palatable.  The
best kind is beauty.
    
from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
148 Moby Thesaurus words for "bait":
      aggravate, allure, allurement, annoy, badger, bait the hook,
      baited trap, be at, bedevil, beset, birdlime, bite, blandish, bola,
      bother, bribe, bristle, brown off, bug, bullyrag, burn up, cajole,
      carrot, charm, chivy, coax, cobweb, come-on, decoy, decoy duck,
      devil, discompose, distemper, disturb, dog, dragnet, draw, draw in,
      draw on, drawcard, drawing card, encouragement, endearment,
      ensnare, entice, enticement, entrap, exasperate, exercise, fash,
      fillip, fishhook, flirt, flirt with, fly, get, gill net,
      give the come-on, gripe, ground bait, harass, harry, haze, heckle,
      hector, hook, hound, incentive, incitement, inducement, interest,
      inveigh, inveigle, inveiglement, invitation, irk, jig, lariat,
      lasso, lead on, lime, lure, meshes, miff, molest, morsel, nag,
      needle, net, nettle, noose, nudzh, offer bait to, payment, peeve,
      percentage, persecute, persuasive, pester, pick on, piece, pique,
      plague, pluck the beard, plug, pother, pound net, profit,
      provocation, provoke, purse seine, push around, rag, reward, ride,
      rile, roil, rope in, ruffle, seduce, seducement, seine, snare,
      sniggle, spinner, springe, squid, stimulation, stimulative,
      stimulus, suck in, sweetener, sweetening, tease, tempt, temptation,
      toils, toll, torment, trap, trawl, try the patience,
      tweak the nose, vex, whet, wobbler, woo, worry

    

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