cebar

to fatten

verb seh-BAHR Rare

Also means

to bait

Usage Note

Cebar has two main senses: to fatten or feed an animal intensively, and to bait a hook or trap. In the Río de la Plata region it has a third specialised meaning: to prepare mate by filling the gourd with yerba and pouring hot water, making cebar el mate a key cultural phrase. The reflexive cebarse means to vent fury on someone or something.

Examples

"El gaucho ceba el mate con agua caliente."

Natural Translation

The gaucho prepares the mate with hot water.

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