First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1gay
adjective \ˈgā\
: sexually attracted to someone who is the same sex
: of, relating to, or used by homosexuals
: happy and excited : cheerful and lively
Full Definition of GAY
1
a : happily excited : merry <in a gay mood> b : keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits <a bird's gay spring song>
3
: given to social pleasures; also : licentious
4
a : homosexual <gay men> b : of, relating to, or used by homosexuals <the gay rights movement> <a gay bar>
— gay adverb
— gay·ness noun
See gay defined for English-language learners
See gay defined for kids
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Origin of GAY
Middle English, from Anglo-French gai, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German gāhi quick, sudden
Related to GAY
- Synonyms
- active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, lively, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy (or pizazzy), racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy
- Antonyms
- dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid
Synonym Discussion of GAY
lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited. lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy <a lively debate on the issues>. animated applies to what is spirited and active <an animated discussion of current events>. vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring <a vivacious party host>. sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit <a tuneful, sprightly musical>. gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits <the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s>.
Rhymes with GAY
a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, 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
2gay
noun
: a person and especially a man who is homosexual
Full Definition of GAY
: homosexual; especially : a homosexual male
See gay defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of GAY
1953
Gay
biographical name \ˈgā\
Definition of GAY
John 1685–1732 Eng. poet & dram.
Rhymes with GAY
a, ae, bay, bey, blae, brae, bray, chez, clay, Cray, day, dey, dray, eh, fay, fey, flay, fley, frae, fray, Frey, 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
GAY Defined for Kids
gay
adjective \ˈgā\
gay·ergay·est
Definition of GAY for Kids
2
: cheerful and lively <They played a gay tune.>
3
: brightly colored <a gay dress>
Learn More About GAY
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