bait
$ \mathrm{bait}^1 /beɪt/
1 food put on a hook to catch fish or in nets, traps, etc. to catch animals or birds
Live worms are used as bait.
The fish took the bait.
e.g.
2 a person or thing that is used to attract somebody in order to catch them or make them do what you want
The police used him as bait to trap the killers.
He had chosen the right bait to persuade her to go.
We hope that potential investors will take the bait.
We'll put out the bait and see what happens.
She covered her face and began to sob, but he wouldn't rise to the bait.
The player was unable to resist the bait dangled in front of him by United.
e.g.
Collocations
adjective
verb + bait
$ \mathrm{bait}^2 /beɪt/
1 bait something (with something) to place food on a hook, in a trap, etc. in order to attract or catch a fish or an animal
He baited the trap with a piece of meat.
2 bait somebody to deliberately try to make somebody angry or to hurt them by making cruel remarks
The soldiers remained calm even though the crowd was baiting them.
3 -baiting (in compound nouns) the activity of attacking a wild animal with dogs
bear-baiting
badger-baiting
Word Origin