bray

¹

[ brey ]

noun

1. the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.
2. any similar loud, harsh sound.

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud and harsh cry, as a donkey.
2. to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with a loud, harsh sound, like a donkey.

bray

²

[ brey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pound or crush fine, as in a mortar.
2. Printing. to thin (ink) on a slate before placing on the ink plate of a press.

bray

¹

/ breɪ /

verb

1. intr (of a donkey) to utter its characteristic loud harsh sound; heehaw
2. intr to make a similar sound, as in laughing

   he brayed at the joke

3. tr to utter with a loud harsh sound

noun

1. the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey
2. a similar loud cry or uproar

   a bray of protest

bray

²

/ breɪ /

verb

1. tr to distribute (ink) over printing type or plates
2. tr to pound into a powder, as in a mortar
3. dialect.
   to hit or beat (someone or something) hard; bang

Derived Forms

• ˈbrayer, noun
• ˈbrayer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bray¹

1250–1300; Middle English brayen < Old French braire to cry out (cognate with Medieval Latin bragīre to neigh) < Celtic; compare Old Irish braigid (he) breaks wind

Origin of bray²

1350–1400; Middle English brayen < Anglo-French bra ( i ) er, Old French broier < Germanic; break

Word History and Origins

Origin of bray¹

C13: from Old French braire , probably of Celtic origin

Origin of bray²

C14: from Old French breier of Germanic origin; see break

Example Sentences

Trump then started braying about immigrants invading the country again, saying they are killing many people "unlike J6."

From Salon

Would that more institutions took that stand, instead of capitulating to a dishonest, braying mob.

From Los Angeles Times

All around me, the mules brayed to be free of their heavy packs.

From Literature

The tauntuan’s gentle face and braying cry definitely lend themselves to our responsiveness to it.

From Salon

Remember the corporate media braying endlessly about the coming recession?

From Salon