bay Definition

bay¹
noun

bays
1. A body of water that forms a wide-mouthed indentation in the coastline, larger than a cove. Compare gulf 1.

Thesaurus: harbour, lagoon, inlet, gulf, cove, bayou, sound, fiord, estuary.

Etymology: 14c: from French baie.

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bay²
noun bays

1. An enclosed or partly enclosed area within a building, vessel, etc for storage or some other purpose.
2. A compartment for storing or carrying, eg in an aircraft.

Example: bomb bay
3a. A parking bay;
3b. A loading bay.
4. A small area of a room set back into a wall. See also bay window.
(Brit)
5. A section of side track in a railway station, especially one where a branch line terminates.

Etymology: 14c, meaning ‘an opening in a wall' or ‘space between two columns': from French baer to gape.

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bay³
adj

1. Said of a horse: reddish-brown in colour, usually with black mane and tail.

noun

bays
1. A bay-coloured horse.

Etymology: 14c: from Latin badius chestnut-coloured.

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bay⁴
noun bays

1. Any of various evergreen trees of the laurel family with shiny dark-green leaves, especially a species whose dried leaves are often used as a flavouring agent (bayleaf) during the cooking of soups and stews. Also called bay tree, sweet bay.
2. Any of various other trees and shrubs, such as magnolias.
3. A wreath of bay leaves, traditionally worn on the head by champions in some competitions, etc.

Form: bays (usually)

Etymology: 15c in obsolete sense ‘berry' (especially that of the bay tree): from Latin baca.

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bay⁵
verb bayed, baying

intr
1. Said especially of large dogs: to make a deep howling bark or cry, especially when hunting.
intr
2. Said of a crowd, etc: to howl or shout loudly and with a deep menacing tone.
3. Said especially of large dogs: to bay or howl at something.

Example: bay the moon
4. To utter something by baying.

Example: baying their welcome
5. To bring (a hunted animal) to bay.

noun

bays
1. The baying sound of a dog, etc.

Idiom: at bay

Said of a hunted animal: not able to escape, but forced to face its attacker or attackers.

Idiom: bring something or someone to bay

To trap it or them; to get (one's prey or opponent) into a position that leaves them no way out.

Idiom: keep something or someone at bay

To fight it or them off; to keep it or them from overwhelming (usually oneself).
Example: keeping poverty at bay
Example: some soup to keep the cold at bay

To keep it or them at a distance.
Example: The boxer kept his opponent at bay

Etymology: 14c: from French abai barking; originally an imitation of the sound.