Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bait

/beɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.85 in modern English

Syllables
bait
IPA
/beɪt/
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Food containing poison or a harmful additive to kill animals that are pests.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Anything which allures; something or someone used to lure or entice someone or something into doing something.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- Proto-Indo-European *-t Proto-Indo-European *bʰéydt Proto-Germanic *bītaną Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-Germanic *baitijaną Old Norse beitabor. Middle English bayte English bait From Middle English bayte, bait, beite, from Old Norse beita (“food, bait”), from Proto-Germanic *baitō (“that which is bitten, bait”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd- (“to cleave, split, separate”). Cognate with German Beize (“mordant, corrosive fluid; marinade”), Old English bāt (“that which can be bitten, food, bait”). Related to bite.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *bʰeyd-, bayte, beita, *baitō, bayten, *baitijaną

Usage

Inflected Forms

baits (plural) b8 (alternative) baits (present, singular) baiting (participle, present) baited (participle, past) baited (past) baiter (comparative) baitest (superlative)

Derived Forms

baitable baitcaster baitcasting baitfish baitholder baithook baiting baitless baitshop baitware baitwell baitworm

Phrases

-bait bait advertising bait-and-switch bait and switch bait ball bait bill bait bills bait boat

Synonyms

badger hound bait bedevil beleaguer persecute dog bullyrag besiege bug devil beset

Homonyms

bate

Rhymes With

great state wait late date rate hate first-rate straight eight create weight

Questions

How do you pronounce bait?
The recorded pronunciation is /beɪt/.
What does bait mean?
Any substance, especially food, used in catching fish, or other animals, by alluring them to a hook, snare, trap, or net.
Where does bait come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce bait

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bait”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/beɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “bait”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “bait” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.