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Definition of "bate" [bate]

  • To lessen the force or intensity of; moderate: "To his dying day he bated his breath a little when he told the story” ( George Eliot). See Usage Note at bait1. (verb-transitive)
  • To take away; subtract. (verb-transitive)
  • To flap the wings wildly or frantically. Used of a falcon. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "bate" in a sentence
  • "You misspelled Kristin's name, and though the word "bate" is pretty rarely used, that's the way to spell "bated breath." blog comments powered by Disqus"
  • "He said it as an opening gambit at parties, throwing out bate."
  • "Debateu-se e ainda se bate muito sobre esse jovem musico."