bass

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural bass or basses
: any of numerous edible marine or freshwater bony fishes (especially families Centrarchidae, Serranidae, and Percichthyidae of the order Perciformes)

bass

2 of 4

adjective

1
: deep or grave in tone
2
a
: of low pitch
b
: relating to or having the range or part of a bass

bass

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
a
: the lowest voice part in a 4-part chorus
b
: the lower half of the whole vocal or instrumental tonal range compare treble entry 1
c
: the lowest adult male singing voice
also : a person having this voice
d
: a member of a family of instruments having the lowest range
especially : double bass
2
: a deep or grave tone : a low-pitched sound

bass

4 of 4

noun (3)

1
2
: a coarse tough fiber from palms

Examples of bass in a Sentence

Adjective the sound of the bass drum a man with an impressive bass voice
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
However, the genre—characterized by fast breakbeats with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, samples and synthesizers—fell out of style in North America. Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 But its predecessor, Volume 3 (featuring Smokeface), has more of a hip-hop feel with booming Trap-like sub-bass lines, some active high-hats mixed with synths, sax, flute, and head-nodding, funky, loping grooves. cleveland, 10 Jan. 2023
Noun
The band consists of brothers Scott Avett (banjo, lead vocals, guitar, piano, kick-drum) and Seth Avett (guitar, lead vocals, piano, hi-hat), with Bob Crawford (double bass, electric bass, violin, backing vocals) and Joe Kwon (cello, backing vocals). Eric E. Harrison, arkansasonline.com, 15 Mar. 2024 Raucous parties complete with thumping bass were said to take place five nights a week. Longreads, 15 Mar. 2024 The 14-song album features work from Cobb (acoustic guitar, eclectic guitar), J.T. Cure (bass), Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Derek Mixon (drums), Morgane (background vocals, synthesizer, tambourine) and Lee Pardini (organ, piano). Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 14 Mar. 2024 So the drums, bass, and rhythm guitars were all recorded together at the same time. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2024 Most are Peso’s bandmates — young but seasoned musicians who play bass, double bass, guitar, requinto (a smaller kind of guitar), trombone, and charchetas (alto horns), all instruments that define Peso’s particular brand of corridos tumbados. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 The quintet is solidly filled out by Atom Ellis on bass and Dave Medd on keyboards. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 In rehearsals of the Shostakovich, for instance, the basses were instructed to slice a bit harder and bow a bit more quickly — a move that almost surmounted the hall’s comparably stingy lows. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English base, bærs, from Old English bærs; akin to Old High German bersich perch

Adjective

Middle English bas base — more at base entry 3

Noun (2)

Middle English bas, noun derivative of bas base entry 2

Noun (3)

alteration of bast

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bass was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near bass

Cite this Entry

“Bass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bass. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bass

1 of 2 noun
plural bass or basses
: any of various spiny-finned freshwater or saltwater sport and food fishes

bass

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: the lowest musical part in harmony for four parts compare alto sense 1b, soprano entry 2 sense 1, tenor sense 2a
b
: the lower half of a musical tone range compare treble
2
a
: the lowest male singing voice or a person who has this voice
b
: a person or instrument performing the bass part
bass adjective
Etymology

Noun

Old English bærs "bass"

Noun

Middle English bas (adjective) "being or having a low solemn tone"

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