Can be likened to bites out of the coast (4)

I believe the answer is:

bays

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'bites out of the coast' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

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(Other definitions for bays that I've seen before include "Inlets; barks" , "Laurel trees" , "Indentations of a shoreline" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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