bay

¹bay

adjective \ˈbā\

Definition of BAY

: reddish brown <a bay mare>

Origin of BAY

Middle English, from Anglo-French bai, from Latin badius; akin to Old Irish buide yellow

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BAY

a, ae, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, gay, Gay, gey, gley, gray, hay, he, hey, Hue, j, jay, Jay, k, kay, Kay, lay, lei, may, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, pay, pe, play, pray, prey, qua, quai, quay, Rae, ray, re, say, shay, slay, sleigh, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, stray, sway, Tay, they, tray, trey, way, weigh, whey, yea

²bay

noun

Definition of BAY

1

: a bay-colored animal; specifically : a horse with a bay-colored body and black mane, tail, and points — compare chestnut 4, ¹sorrel 1

2

: a reddish brown

First Known Use of BAY

1535

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

³bay

noun

Definition of BAY

1

: a principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building or of the whole building

2

: a main division of a structure

3

: any of various compartments or sections used for a special purpose (as in an airplane, spacecraft, or service station) <a bomb bay> <a cargo bay>

4

: bay window 1

5

: a support or housing for electronic equipment

Origin of BAY

Middle English, from Anglo-French baee opening, from feminine of baé, past participle of baer to be wide open, gape, from Vulgar Latin *batare

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

⁴bay

verb

Definition of BAY

intransitive verb

1

: to bark with prolonged tones <dogs baying at the moon>

2

: to cry out : shout

transitive verb

1

: to bark at

2

: to bring to bay

3

: to pursue with barking

4

: to utter in deep prolonged tones

Examples of BAY

1. <the mob was baying for revenge>
2. <the lonesome beagle bayed whenever someone walked by>

Origin of BAY

Middle English baien, abaien, from Anglo-French abaier, of imitative origin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to BAY

Synonyms

bawl, call, bellow, cry, holler, hollo (or halloo also hallo), roar, shout, sound off, thunder, vociferate, yell

Related Words

crow, whoop; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal; caterwaul, howl, ululate, wail, yawp (or yaup), yowl; hail; speak out, speak up

Near Antonyms

breathe, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper

⁵bay

noun

Definition of BAY

1

: a baying of dogs

2

: the position of one unable to retreat and forced to face danger <brought his quarry to bay>

3

: the position of one checked <police kept the rioters at bay>

First Known Use of BAY

14th century

⁶bay

noun, often attributive

Definition of BAY

1

: an inlet of the sea or other body of water usually smaller than a gulf

2

: a small body of water set off from the main body

3

: any of various terrestrial formations resembling a bay of the sea

Origin of BAY

Middle English baye, from Anglo-French bai, perhaps from baer to be wide open

First Known Use: 14th century

⁷bay

noun

Definition of BAY

1

a : laurel 1

b : any of several shrubs or trees (as the red bay or sweet bay) resembling the laurel — compare bay rum

2

a : a garland or crown especially of laurel given as a prize for victory or excellence

b : honor, fame —usually used in plural

Origin of BAY

Middle English, berry, laurel berry, from Anglo-French bai, from L. baca

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil