bray Hear it!

bray1 definition

bray (brā)

intransitive verb

to make the loud, harsh cry of a donkey, or a sound, esp. a laugh, like this

Etymology: ME braien < OFr braire < VL *bragire, to cry out

transitive verb

to utter loudly and harshly

noun

the loud, harsh cry of a donkey, or a sound like this
bray2 definition

bray (brā)

transitive verb

  1. to crush or pound into a powder, as in a mortar
  2. to spread thin, as ink

Etymology: ME braien < OFr breier, to pound, pulverize; prob. < Frank *brekan, break

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

bray Synonyms

bray

v.

bawl, whinny, neigh; see sound 1, yell.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

bray Usage Examples

Object

  • donkey: Otherwise you appear to be a barking dog or a braying donkey.

Converse of object

  • do: Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

Modifies a noun

  • while: Say that internet and went on the correct way bray quot while.

Modifying Another Word

  • loudly: Surely it would be quite evocative to hear donkeys braying loudly from the top of Castle Mound?

Noun used with modifier

  • donkey: Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

Preposition: of

  • donkey: They were divers, easily recognized by their cry, which much resembles the braying of a donkey.

Preposition: for

  • blood: If these stories were reported by the press, the public would bray for blood.

Preposition: like

  • donkey: They also make good guard dogs; if there's a predator nearby, Billy, the gang leader, brays like a donkey.
bray usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"bray." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/bray>

APA Style

bray. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/bray

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