noun

bay

BAY

noun

A body of water partly enclosed by a curve of the coastline.

"The fishing boats sheltered in the bay during the storm."

"They spent the afternoon swimming in a quiet bay."

A distinct section or compartment, such as a parking space, loading area, or part of a building.

"Please reverse the van into loading bay three."

"The hospital has a dedicated bay for ambulances."

The evergreen tree or shrub whose leaves are used as a cooking herb (bay leaf).

"Add a bay leaf to the stew for extra flavour."

verb

To bark or howl loudly, especially of hunting dogs.

"The hounds bayed as they closed in on the fox."

adj

Reddish-brown in colour, especially describing a horse with a black mane and tail.

"She rode a handsome bay mare."

How to Use Bay

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA curved stretch of coastline, a separate compartment or space, a cooking herb, or (as a verb) the loud howl of a hunting dog.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "at bay," meaning held off at a distance, with the bay tree or the body of water — the phrase comes from the hunting sense.

Common pairings

keep at bay bay window bay leaf loading bay

Word Forms

bayer comparative, more bay comparative, bayed past tense, bays plural, bays plural, bays plural, bays plural, bays plural, Bays plural, bays singular, bayest superlative, most bay superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The fishing boats sheltered in the _____ during the storm.

Etymology

From Old French "baie," from Late Latin "baia," possibly from an Iberian or Basque word for an inlet of the sea.

Rhymes for bay

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

See all rhymes for bay →