bass

¹

[ beys ]

adjective

1. low in pitch; of the lowest pitch or range:

   a bass voice; a bass instrument.

2. of or relating to the lowest part in harmonic music.

noun

1. the bass part.
2. a bass voice, singer, or instrument.
3. double bass.

bass

²

[ bas ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) bass, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) bass·es.

1. any of numerous edible, spiny-finned, freshwater or marine fishes of the families Serranidae and Centrarchidae.
2. (originally) the European perch, Perca fluviatilis.

bass

³

[ bas ]

noun

1. the basswood or linden.
2. bast.

Bass

⁴

[ bas ]

noun

1. Sam, 1851–78, U.S. outlaw: bank and train robber in the West.

bass

¹

/ beɪs /

noun

1. the lowest adult male voice usually having a range from E a 13th below middle C to D a tone above it
2. a singer with such a voice
3. the bass
   the lowest part in a piece of harmony See also thorough bass
4. informal.
   short for bass guitar double bass
5. 1. the low-frequency component of an electrical audio signal, esp in a record player or tape recorder
   2. the knob controlling this on such an instrument

adjective

1. relating to or denoting the bass

   the bass part

   bass pitch

2. denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a family

   a bass trombone

bass

²

/ bæs /

noun

1. any of various sea perches, esp Morone labrax , a popular game fish with one large spiny dorsal fin separate from a second smaller one See also sea bass stone bass
2. the European perch See perch 2
3. any of various predatory North American freshwater percoid fishes, such as Micropterus salmoides , ( largemouth bass ): family Centrarchidae (sunfishes, etc)

bass

³

/ bæs /

noun

1. another name for bast
2. short for basswood
3. Also calledfish bass a bast fibre bag for holding an angler's catch

bass

1. The lowest range of the male singing voice. ( Compare baritone and tenor .)

Other Words From

• bassly adverb
• bassness noun
• bassy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bass¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bas, bass(e), baas, variant of base ² with ss of basso

Origin of bass²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English bas(e), bace, earlier bærs, Old English bærs, bears (with loss of r before s as in ass ², passel, etc.); cognate with Dutch baars, German Barsch, Old Swedish agh-borre

Origin of bass³

First recorded in 1675–85; variant of bast with unexplained loss of -t

Word History and Origins

Origin of bass¹

C15 bas base ¹; modern spelling influenced by basso

Origin of bass²

C15: changed from base ², influenced by Italian basso low

Origin of bass³

C17: changed from bast

Example Sentences

But the jolly tone gives way to something fiercer and more appropriately epic: a galloping rhythm on the drums, insistent bass and scorching guitar notes.

From New York Times

“Tomorrow,” after intermission, contained 24 blissful minutes of bass, percussion, flute, guitar and vocal noodling over a recorded soundscape of environmental noise.

From Los Angeles Times

A motorik beat, jaunty bass line and melodic wafts of keyboard make the track go down with a disarming ease.

From New York Times

“When we were trying to get a certain feel for a song, Dwight would cite a bass part from an old Byrds song from the ’60s,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a guitar riff with a counterpoint bass line.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dark
• extreme
• great
• hard
• profound
• rich
• strong
• vivid