bay Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
    embayment.
  2. noun the sound of a hound on the scent
  3. noun small Mediterranean evergreen tree with small blackish berries and glossy aromatic leaves used for flavoring in cooking; also used by ancient Greeks to crown victors
    bay tree; Laurus nobilis; true laurel; bay laurel.
  4. noun a compartment on a ship between decks; often used as a hospital
    • they put him in the sick bay
  5. noun a compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose
    • he opened the bomb bay
  6. noun a small recess opening off a larger room
    alcove.
  7. noun a horse of a moderate reddish-brown color
  8. verb utter in deep prolonged tones
  9. verb bark with prolonged noises, of dogs
    quest.
  10. adjective satellite (used of animals especially a horse) of a moderate reddish-brown color

WordNet

Bay adjective
Etymology
F. bai, fr. L. badius brown, chestnutcolored; -- used only of horses.
Definitions
  1. Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; -- applied to the color of horses.
Bay noun
Etymology
F. baie, fr. LL. baia. Of uncertain origin: cf. Ir. & Gael. badh or bagh bay harbor, creek; Bisc. baia, baiya, harbor, and F. bayer to gape, open the mouth.
Definitions
  1. (Geol.) An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character. ✍ The name is not used with much precision, and is often applied to large tracts of water, around which the land forms a curve; as, Hudson's Bay. The name is not restricted to tracts of water with a narrow entrance, but is used foe any recess or inlet between capes or headlands; as, the Bay of Biscay.
  2. A small body of water set off from the main body; as a compartment containing water for a wheel; the portion of a canal just outside of the gates of a lock, etc.
  3. A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.
  4. A principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building, or of the whole building, as marked off by the buttresses, vaulting, mullions of a window, etc.; one of the main divisions of any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.
  5. A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the stalks.
  6. A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay. Totten.
Bay noun
Etymology
F. baie a berry, the fruit of the laurel and other trees, fr. L. baca, bacca, a small round fruit, a berry, akin to Lith. bapka laurel berry.
Definitions
  1. A berry, particularly of the laurel. Obs.
  2. The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel.
    The patriot's honors and the poet's bays. Trumbull.
  3. A tract covered with bay trees. Local, U. S.
Bay intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. bayen, abayen, OF. abaier, F. aboyer, to bark; of uncertain origin.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bayed (); present participle & verbal noun Baying
Definitions
  1. To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.
    The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed. Dryden.
Bay transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear. Shak.
Bay noun
Etymology
See Bay, v. i.
Definitions
  1. Deep-toned, prolonged barking. "The bay of curs." Cowper.
  2. OE. bay, abay, OF. abai, F. aboi barking, pl. abois, prop. the extremity to which the stag is reduced when surrounded by the dogs, barking (aboyant); aux abois at bay. A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
    Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay. Dryden.
    The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts. I. Taylor
Bay transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. OE. bæwen to bathe, and G. bähen to foment.
Definitions
  1. To bathe. Obs. Spenser.
Bay noun
Definitions
  1. A bank or dam to keep back water.
Bay transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To dam, as water; -- with up or back.

Webster 1913