Bay Definition

baying, bays
noun
bays
A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea.
The Bay of Biscay.
American Heritage
A part of a sea or lake that cuts into the shoreline; wide inlet: usually smaller than a gulf.
Webster's New World
An area of land, such as an arm of prairie partially enclosed by woodland, that resembles in shape or formation a partially enclosed body of water.
American Heritage
A small gulf with an opening to the sea of less than 24 nautical miles and a strictly defined minimum area: used to determine territorial waters.
Webster's New World
A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters.
An arcade divided into ten bays.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
adjective
Reddish-brown.
Webster's New World
Reddish-brown.
A bay colt.
American Heritage
Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb
baying, bays
To utter a deep, prolonged bark.
American Heritage
To bark or howl in long, deep tones.
Webster's New World
To bark at; howl at.
Webster's New World
To pursue or challenge with barking.
American Heritage
To chase with yelps and barks.
Webster's New World
pronoun

A region of Somalia.

Wiktionary
(informal) The San Francisco Bay Area (metropolitan area in California)
Wiktionary
(informal) San Francisco Bay.
Wiktionary
idiom
at bay
  • with escape cut off; cornered
  • unable to advance; held off

    the bear kept the hunters at bay

Webster's New World
bring to bay
  • to force into a situation that makes escape impossible; corner
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Bay

Noun

Singular:
bay
Plural:
bays

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Bay

Origin of Bay

  • Middle English from abai cornering a hunted animal from Old French from abaiier to bark perhaps from Vulgar Latin abbaiāre Latin ad- ad- Vulgar Latin badāre to gape, yawn V., Middle English baien to bark from abaien from Old French abaiier

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English baye, baie, from Old English beġ (“berry”), as in beġbēam (“berry-tree”), conflated with Old French baie, from Latin bāca (“berry”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From French baie, from Old French baé, masculine singular past participle of the verb baer, from Vulgar Latin *badō (“I am open”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English bai from Old French from Latin badius perhaps of Celtic origin Old Irish buide yellow

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English bai from Old French from Latin badius perhaps of Celtic origin Old Irish buide yellow

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old French baee an opening from baer to gape from Vulgar Latin badāre

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old French baie perhaps from baer to open out, gape bay2

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French bay, combined with aphesized form of abay; verbal form Old French baier, abaier.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French baie berry from Latin bāca

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French baie, from Latin badius (“reddish brown, chestnut”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From French baie, from Late Latin baia.

    From Wiktionary

  • From bay

    From Wiktionary

  • Somali

    From Wiktionary

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