Learn about the difference between the homophones: bate and bait

Definitions

bate

Bate is a verb that means to moderate or restrain, especially one's anger or excitement.

Example

He tried to bate his anger by taking deep breaths.

Example

She had to bate her enthusiasm when she realized the project was going to take longer than expected.

bait

Bait is a noun that refers to food or some other lure placed on a hook or in a trap to attract fish or animals. It can also be used as a verb meaning to put bait on a hook or in a trap.

Example

The fisherman put a worm on his hook as bait.

Example

The hunter baited the trap with a piece of meat.

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

- To remember the difference between bate and bait, you could associate bate with 'restrain' or 'moderate', which both have the letter 'a'. - For bait, think of the 'i' in bait as standing for 'insect' or 'food', which are things that can be used as bait.