BATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bate mean? 

• BATE (verb)
  The verb BATE has 3 senses:

1. moderate or restrain; lessen the force of

2. flap the wings wildly or frantically; used of falcons

3. soak in a special solution to soften and remove chemicals used in previous treatments

  Familiarity information: BATE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they bate    ... he / she / it bates   
Past simple: bated   
Past participle: bated   
-ing form: bating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moderate or restrain; lessen the force of

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

capable of bating his enthusiasm

Hypernyms (to "bate" is one way to...):

check; contain; control; curb; hold; hold in; moderate (lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Flap the wings wildly or frantically; used of falcons

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "bate" is one way to...):

beat; flap (move with a thrashing motion)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Soak in a special solution to soften and remove chemicals used in previous treatments

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

bate hides and skins

Hypernyms (to "bate" is one way to...):

douse; dowse; drench; soak; sop; souse (cover with liquid; pour liquid onto)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

“And the wood and stone, holy father?” asked Alleyne, with bated breath, as he stared awe-struck at his precious relics.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She was looking on with bated breath, leaning slightly forward, so keen was her interest, one hand pressed to her breast, her cheek flushed, and in her eyes a great and amazed admiration.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Poole disinterred the axe from under a stack of packing straw; the candle was set upon the nearest table to light them to the attack; and they drew near with bated breath to where that patient foot was still going up and down, up and down, in the quiet of the night.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

We started, certainly; but in spite of the hot sun and the staring daylight, the pirates no longer ran separate and shouting through the wood, but kept side by side and spoke with bated breath.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

One afternoon he went out with Arthur to the University of California, and, with bated breath and a feeling of religious awe, went through the laboratories, saw demonstrations, and listened to a physics professor lecturing to his classes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)