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bay

adjective
\ ˈbā How to pronounce bay (audio) \

Definition of bay

 (Entry 1 of 7)

: reddish brown a bay mare

bay

noun (1)

Definition of bay (Entry 2 of 7)

1 : an animal that is a reddish-brown color : a bay (see bay entry 1) animal specifically : a horse with a bay-colored body and black mane, tail, and points (see point entry 1 sense 6b(3)) — compare chestnut entry 1 sense 4, sorrel entry 1 sense 1
2 : a reddish brown

bay

noun (2)

Definition of bay (Entry 3 of 7)

1 architecture : a principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building or of the whole building … the transverse arches and adjacent piers of the arcade divide the building into bays …— Helen Gardner
2 architecture : a main division of a structure a barn with three bays
3 : any of various compartments or sections used for a special purpose (as in an airplane, spacecraft, or gas station) a bomb bay a cargo bay
4 : bay window sense 1
5 : a support or housing for electronic equipment

bay

verb
bayed; baying; bays

Definition of bay (Entry 4 of 7)

intransitive verb

1 : to bark with prolonged tones dogs baying at the moon
2 : to cry out : shout a baying crowd

transitive verb

1 : to bark at dogs baying the moon
2 : to bring to the position of one unable to retreat and forced to face danger : to bring to bay (see bay entry 5 sense 2) hounds baying a fox
3 : to pursue with barking … dogs baying and driving him up a tree …— Charles Darwin
4 : to utter in deep prolonged tones

bay

noun (3)

Definition of bay (Entry 5 of 7)

1 : an instance of a dog barking with prolonged tones : a baying (see bay entry 4 sense 1) of dogs followed the trail in full bay
2 : the position of one unable to retreat and forced to face danger brought the boar to bay
3 : the position of one checked police kept the rioters at bay

bay

noun (4), often attributive

Definition of bay (Entry 6 of 7)

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 a bay of prairie

bay

noun (5)

Definition of bay (Entry 7 of 7)

1 botany

a : laurel sense 1
b : any of several shrubs or trees (such as the red bay or sweet bay) resembling the laurel — compare bay rum
2a : a garland or crown especially of laurel given as a prize for victory or excellence had won the bays
b : honor, fame —usually used in plural The patriot's honours and the poet's bays.— John Trumbull
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bay

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Examples of bay in a Sentence

Verb

 the mob was baying for revenge the lonesome beagle bayed whenever someone walked by

First Known Use of bay

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (5)

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

History and Etymology for bay

Adjective

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

Noun (1)

noun derivative of bay entry 1

Noun (2)

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