First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1bay
adjective \ˈbā\
Definition of BAY
: reddish brown <a bay mare>
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Origin of BAY
Middle English, from Anglo-French bai, from Latin badius; akin to Old Irish buide yellow
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
2
: a reddish brown
First Known Use of BAY
1535
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
4bay
verb
: to bark with long sounds
: to shout or cry out in a loud and often angry way
Full 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
See bay defined for English-language learners
Origin of BAY
Middle English baien, abaien, from Anglo-French abaier, of imitative origin
First Known Use: 14th century
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
2
Origin of BAY
Middle English, berry, laurel berry, from Anglo-French bai, from L. baca
First Known Use: 15th century
BAY Defined for Kids
1bay
noun \ˈbā\
Definition of BAY for Kids
1
: a reddish-brown horse with black mane, tail, and lower legs
2
: a reddish brown
2bay
verb
bayedbay·ing
Definition of BAY for Kids
: to bark or bark at with long deep tones <We heard dogs baying at the moon.>
3bay
noun
Definition of BAY for Kids
1
: a deep bark
2
: the position of an animal or a person forced to face pursuers when it is impossible to escape <Hunters brought the wild boar to bay.>
3
: the position of someone or something held off or kept back <He kept the hounds at bay.> <She held her fear at bay.>
4bay
noun
Definition of BAY for Kids
: a part of a large body of water extending into the land
5bay
noun
Definition of BAY for Kids
: the laurel or a related tree or shrub
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