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bay¹ Definition

bay (bā)

noun

    1. a part of a sea or lake that cuts into the shoreline; wide inlet: usually smaller than a gulf
    2. International Law 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
  2. ☆ any level land area making an indentation, as into a woods, range of hills, etc.

Etymology: ME bai < OFr baie < ML baia, prob. < Iberian

bay² Definition

bay (bā)

noun

    1. an opening or alcove marked off by pillars, columns, etc.
    2. a recess in a wall, as for a window
    3. bay window
  2. a part of a building projecting from the main part; wing
  3. a compartment or space; specif.,
    1. a bin in a barn, for storing hay or grain
    2. a compartment in an aircraft or spacecraft bomb bay, cargo bay
    3. in a service station, the area for one car
  4. sick bay

Etymology: ME bai < OFr baée < baer, bayer, to gape, yawn < VL batare, to gape

bay³ Definition

bay (bā)

intransitive verb

to bark or howl in long, deep tones

Etymology: ME baien, abaien < OFr baiier, abaiier < IE base *bai-, echoic of howling

transitive verb

  1. to bark at; howl at
  2. to chase with yelps and barks
  3. to bring to or hold at bay
  4. to utter in long, deep tones

noun

  1. the sound of baying
  2. the situation of or as of a hunted animal forced to turn and fight

bay³ Idioms

at bay

  1. with escape cut off; cornered
  2. unable to advance; held off the bear kept the hunters at bay

bring to bay

to force into a situation that makes escape impossible; corner

bay4 Definition

bay (bā)

noun

  1. laurel ()
    1. a wreath of bay leaves, a classical token of honor given to poets and conquerors
    2. honor; fame
  3. any of various trees or shrubs of various families, as rosebay or bayberry

Etymology: ME bai < OFr baie < L baca, berry

bay5 Definition

bay (bā)

adjective

reddish-brown: said esp. of horses

Etymology: ME bai < OFr baie < L badius

noun

  1. a horse or, sometimes, some other animal of this color
  2. reddish brown

bay Synonyms

bay

modif.

reddish-brown, reddish, brownish-red, castaneous, chestnut, rufous, badeous, ruddy; see also brown.

bay Synonyms

bay

n.

  1. Part of a sea or lake indenting the shoreline

    inlet, gulf, bayou, loch, bight, sound, fiord, firth, frith, estuary, strait, narrows, arm of the sea, mouth, lagoon, cove, anchorage, harbor.

  2. A recess

    alcove, nook, compartment, bay window; see alcove, recess 3, window 1.

at bay

cornered, caught, captured; see trapped.

bring to bay

corner, trap, catch; see ambush.

bay Synonyms

bay

v.

bellow, howl, cry; see bark 1.

bay Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • overlook: Also, five minutes walk away, with a garden overlooking the bay is Oxwich Bay Hotel, serving good food all day.

Adjective modifier

  • sheltered: First dive was going to be in that sheltered bay on Crescent Island.
  • sandy: In most places these were simply pulled up on shore in the sandy bays for safety.
  • secluded: Equally, you may decide to drop anchor in a secluded bay for a romantic lunch or a spot of sunbathing.
  • sweeping: The area has a natural charm and beauty, and the sweeping bays along the coastline provide the basis for a scenic relaxing break.
  • marked: Parking is limited and students can only park in the marked bays designated for the use of Canterbury Christ Church students.
  • disabled: There are disabled parking bays adjacent to the Museum entrance.

Modifies a noun

  • leaf: Add the garlic clove and bay leaf, and fry briefly over medium heat until the garlic just starts to brown.
  • gelding: It says FOR SALE above this three year-old bay gelding.
  • fahns: Only for squares even the cover east bay fahns.
  • mare: Mel is the bay mare on the right of Ziggy is now in a new home with a VHS carer.
  • window: The bay windows are extended down into the basement.
  • packer: About the Club... homepage.ntlworld.com Green bay packers team photos.. .

Noun used with modifier

  • loading: Outside, at the loading bays, I then faced another trauma.
  • parking: There are disabled parking bays adjacent to the Museum entrance.
  • horseshoe: The forested central hills provide a spectacular backdrop to the many horseshoe bays of Tobago.
  • francisco: Filipino american bay francisco bay was learn to play.

Preposition: of

  • arcade: Further west is a further bay of the arcade, giving on to what is now the organ chamber.
  • nave: Walls and roof as the nave because the chancel was formed from the easternmost bay of the nave in the 19thC.

Preposition: with

  • truss: Flagged floor; plastered and painted walls; roof of two bays with two visible arch-braced collar trusses, chamfered, and plain purlins.
bay Quotes

I must be mad, or very tired, When the curve of a blue bay beyond a railroad track Is shrill and sweet to me like the sudden springing of a tune, And the sight of a white church above thin trees in a city square Amazes my eyes as though it were the Parthenon.

—Lowell, Amy

Thou who didst waken from his summer dreams The blue Mediterranean, where he lay, Lulled by the coil of his crystalline streams Beside a pumice isle in Baiae's bay, And saw in sleep old palaces and towers Quivering within the wave's intenser day, All overgrown with azure moss and flowers So sweet, the sense faints picturing them.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

I myself have seen the ungodly in great power, and flourishing like a green bay-tree.I went by, and lo, he was gone: I sought him, but his place could no where be found. Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right: for that shall bring a man peace at the last.

—Book of Common Prayer

Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

—Wordsworth,William

But beside it I have planted a green Bay-tree, öA sweet Bay, an Olive, and aTurkey Fig, öA Fig, an Olive, and a Bay.

—Bethell, (Mary) Ursula

Gwine to run all night, Gwine to run all day, I'll bet my money on de bob-tail nag, Somebody bet on de bay.

—Foster, Stephen Collins

Browse dictionary entries near bay

  1. ‹ bawl out
  2. ‹ bawl
  3. ‹ bawdyhouse
  4. ‹ bawdy
  5. ‹ bawdry
  6. ‹ bawd
  7. ‹ bawcock
  8. ‹ bawbee
  9. ‹ Bavarian cream
  10. ‹ Bavarian
  1. bay antler ›
  2. Bay Area ›
  3. bay leaf ›
  4. bay lynx ›
  5. Bay of Pigs ›
  6. bay rum ›
  7. Bay State ›
  8. bay window ›
  9. bayadere ›
  10. Bayamón ›