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

"For some reason, it’s always shoes. I’m not quite sure why," said Dr Bray.

From BBC

Dr Bray said that sometimes his job was to simply provide reassurance.

From BBC

Dr Bray said he first became interested in deliverance 27 years ago, when he was ordained.

From BBC

After moving into the curate’s house at his new ministry, Dr Bray said he and his wife noticed that the house was unusually cold, even in the summer.

From BBC

Dr Bray also has a portable communion kit, which he said allowed him to celebrate mass in people's houses.

From BBC