Bay definition

bā
baying bays
See word origin
Frequency:
A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea.

The Bay of Biscay.

noun
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4
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.
noun
7
3
Reddish-brown.

A bay colt.

adjective
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1
A bay window.
noun
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A reddish brown.
noun
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An opening or recess in a wall.
noun
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1
A reddish brown.
noun
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(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.
noun
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A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail.
noun
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Reddish-brown.

A bay colt.

adjective
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A deep, prolonged bark, such as the sound made by hounds.
noun
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To express by barking or howling.

A mob baying its fury.

verb
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A wreath of bay leaves, a classical token of honor given to poets and conquerors.
noun
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A space in the cabinet of a personal computer where a storage device, such as a disk drive or CD-ROM drive, can be installed.
1
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The position of having been checked or held at a distance.
noun
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1
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The definition of a bay is a large body of water connected to an ocean or sea formed by an inlet of land.

The Chesapeake Bay surrounding Washington, D.C. and Baltimore is an example of a bay.

noun
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Bay is defined as a long cry or howl.

An example of a bay is the noise a horse makes.

noun
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To bay means to make a loud, howling noise.

An example of bay is when a coyote howls at the moon.

verb
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Bay means a section of a house or window in architecture.

An example of a bay is a window seat section of a room.

noun
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A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail.
noun
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The position of one cornered by pursuers and forced to turn and fight at close quarters.

The hunters brought their quarry to bay.

noun
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Any of certain other trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage, such as the California laurel.
noun
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A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves and branches of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory.
noun
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Honor; renown.
noun
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A part of a sea or lake that cuts into the shoreline; wide inlet: usually smaller than a gulf.
noun
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A part of a building projecting from the main part; wing.
noun
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A compartment or space.
  • A bin in a barn, for storing hay or grain.
  • A compartment in an aircraft or spacecraft.
    Bomb bay, cargo bay.
  • In a service station, the area for one car.
noun
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noun
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An opening or alcove marked off by pillars, columns, etc.
noun
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A recess in a wall, as for a window.
noun
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To bark or howl in long, deep tones.
verb
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To bark at; howl at.
verb
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To chase with yelps and barks.
verb
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To bring to or hold at bay.
verb
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To utter in long, deep tones.
verb
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The sound of baying.
noun
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The situation of or as of a hunted animal forced to turn and fight.
noun
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noun
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Any of various trees or shrubs of various families, as rosebay or bayberry.
noun
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Honor; fame.
noun
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Reddish-brown.
adjective
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A horse or, sometimes, some other animal of this color.
noun
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Reddish brown.
noun
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A body of water partially enclosed by land but having a wide outlet to the sea. A bay is usually smaller than a gulf.
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Laurus nobilis, a shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries.
noun
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(in the plural, now rare) The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.
noun
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The leaf of this or certain other species of shrub, used as a herb.
noun
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(US, dialect) A tract covered with bay trees.
noun
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A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico.
noun
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(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more or less three-quarters surrounded by land.
noun
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A bank or dam to keep back water.
noun
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An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.
noun
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An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.
noun
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The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.
noun
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(nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.
noun
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(rail transport) A bay platform.
noun
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Shortened form of bay window.
noun
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The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.
noun
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(by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.
noun
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(figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
noun
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(intransitive) To howl.
verb
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To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.

To bay the bear.

verb
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To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.
verb
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Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).
adjective
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A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.

noun
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A horse of this color.
noun
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A region of Somalia.
pronoun
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(informal) The San Francisco Bay Area (metropolitan area in California)
pronoun
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(informal) San Francisco Bay.
pronoun
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(architecture) A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters.

An arcade divided into ten bays.

noun
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1
A section or compartment, as in a service station, barn, or aircraft, that is set off for a specific purpose.

A cargo bay; an engine bay.

noun
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1
A sickbay.
noun
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1
(computers) A drive bay.
noun
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1
To utter a deep, prolonged bark.
verb
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1
To pursue or challenge with barking.
verb
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1
To bring to bay.
verb
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1
Any level land area making an indentation, as into a woods, range of hills, etc.
noun
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1
at bay
  • with escape cut off; cornered
  • unable to advance; held off
    The bear kept the hunters at bay.
idiom
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bring to bay
  • to force into a situation that makes escape impossible; corner
idiom
1
0

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
bay
Plural:
bays

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

bring 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

  • 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

  • Middle English from Old French baie berry from Latin bāca

    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

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

    From Wiktionary

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

    From Wiktionary

  • From French baie, from Late Latin baia.

    From Wiktionary

  • From bay

    From Wiktionary

  • From Wiktionary

Bay Sentence Examples

  • They kept their emotions at bay for the most part.

  • Staring out the bay window at the old house, she abandoned her coffee cup on the window sill.

  • A large bay window sported a roomy window seat.

  • The big bay was breathing hard when they stopped to rest.

  • Bordeaux urged the bay after them.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near bay in the Dictionary