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bay
1[ bey ]
noun
- a body of water forming an indentation of the shoreline, larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf.
- South Atlantic States. an arm of a swamp.
- a recess of land, partly surrounded by hills.
- an arm of a prairie or swamp, extending into woods and partly surrounded by them.
bay
2[ bey ]
noun
- Architecture.
- any of a number of similar major vertical divisions of a large interior, wall, etc.:
The nave is divided into six bays.
- a division of a window between a mullion and an adjoining mullion or jamb.
- Aeronautics.
- any portion of an airplane set off by two successive bulkheads or other bracing members.
- a compartment in an aircraft:
a bomb bay;
an engine bay.
- a compartment, as in a barn for storing hay.
- Also called drive bay. Computers. an open compartment in the console housing a computer's CPU in which a disk drive, tape drive, etc., may be installed.
- Nautical.
- the deck space between the anchor windlass and the stem of a vessel.
bay
3[ bey ]
noun
- a deep, prolonged howl, as of a hound on the scent.
- the position or stand of an animal or fugitive that is forced to turn and resist pursuers because it is no longer possible to flee (usually preceded by at or to ):
a stag at bay; to bring an escaped convict to bay.
- the situation of a person or thing that is forced actively to oppose or to succumb to some adverse condition (usually preceded by at or to ).
- the situation of being actively opposed by an animal, person, etc., so as to be powerless to act fully (often preceded by at ).
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
- to assail with deep, prolonged howling:
a troubled hound baying the moon.
- to bring to or to hold at bay:
A dog bays its quarry.
bay
4[ bey ]
noun
- any of various laurellike trees or shrubs.
- any of several magnolias.
- an honorary garland or crown bestowed for military victory, literary excellence, etc.
Tennyson had fairly won his bays.
bay
5[ bey ]
noun
- reddish brown.
- a horse or other animal of reddish-brown color.
adjective
- (of horses or other animals) having a reddish-brown body.
bay
1/ beɪ /
noun
- a deep howl or growl, esp of a hound on the scent
- at bay
- (of a person or animal) forced to turn and face attackers
the dogs held the deer at bay
- at a distance
to keep a disease at bay
- bring to bayto force into a position from which retreat is impossible
verb
- intr to howl (at) in deep prolonged tones
- tr to utter in a loud prolonged tone
- tr to drive to or hold at bay
bay
2/ beɪ /
noun
- Also calledbay laurel, sweet bay a small evergreen Mediterranean laurel, Laurus nobilis , with glossy aromatic leaves, used for flavouring in cooking, and small blackish berries See laurel
- any of various other trees with strongly aromatic leaves used in cooking, esp a member of the genera Myrica or Pimenta
- any of several magnolias See sweet bay
- any of certain other trees or shrubs, esp bayberry
- plural a wreath of bay leaves See laurel
bay
3/ beɪ /
noun
- a wide semicircular indentation of a shoreline, esp between two headlands or peninsulas
- an extension of lowland into hills that partly surround it
- an extension of prairie into woodland
bay
4/ beɪ /
noun
- an alcove or recess in a wall
- any partly enclosed compartment, as one in which hay is stored in a barn
- See bay window
- an area off a road in which vehicles may park or unload, esp one adjacent to a shop, factory, etc
- a compartment in an aircraft, esp one used for a specified purpose
the bomb bay
- nautical a compartment in the forward part of a ship between decks, often used as the ship's hospital
- a tracked recess in the platform of a railway station, esp one forming the terminus of a branch line
bay
5/ beɪ /
noun
- a moderate reddish-brown colour
- ( as adjective )
a bay horse
- an animal of this colour, esp a horse
bay
/ bā /
- A body of water partially enclosed by land but having a wide outlet to the sea. A bay is usually smaller than a gulf.
- 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.
Word History and Origins
Origin of bay1
Origin of bay2
Origin of bay3
Origin of bay4
Origin of bay5
Word History and Origins
Origin of bay1
Origin of bay2
Origin of bay3
Origin of bay4
Origin of bay5
Idioms and Phrases
see at bay .Example Sentences
England lost their fifth consecutive game as back-to-back world champions South Africa kept the hosts at bay to win at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.
Research Casting International’s unassuming warehouse sits on the bank of a quiet bay about 100 miles east of Toronto.
Plymouth Magistrates' Court heard the newcomer to the firm had been moving strip curtains in the loading bay before being struck by the lorry.
Across Manchester, rivals City have struggled to keep their opponents at bay.
Add combined oyster liquor and chicken broth, bay leaf, and a handful of chopped green parts of green onions, and bring to a low boil.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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