The AI-powered English dictionary
plural bays
(obsolete) A berry.
Laurus nobilis, a tree or shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries. examples
Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb. examples
(in the plural, now rare) The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory. quotations
both you here with many a cursed oth, / Sweare she is yours, and stirre vp bloudie frayes, / To win a willow bough, whilest other weares the bayes.
1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie
The patriot's honours and the poet's bays.
1771, John Trumbull, On the Vanity of Youthful Expectations
(US, dialect) A tract covered with bay trees. examples
A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico. examples
(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more-or-less three-quarters surrounded by land. quotations examples
'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
A bank or dam to keep back water. examples
An opening in a wall, especially between two columns. examples
An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides. quotations examples
Wrex: And Shepard--I like what you've done with the Normandy. Got tired of always hanging around the cargo bay before.
2012, BioWare, Mass Effect 3 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Normandy SR-2
A “moving platform” scheme […] is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays.
2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly)
The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof. examples
(nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships. examples
(rail transport) A bay platform. quotations examples
There is a short bay at the west end of each platform, but neither is used for passenger trains.
1946 May and June, G. A. Sekon, “L.B.S.C.R. West Coast Section—3”, in Railway Magazine, page 149
A bay window. examples
The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked. quotations examples
The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey, / The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green. / Uncouple here, and let us make a bay / And wake the Emperor and his lovely bride, / And rouse the Prince, and ring a hunter's peal, / That all the court may echo with the noise.
c. 1588–1593, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, act 2, scene 2, lines 1–6
(by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey. examples
(figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible. quotations examples
Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay.
1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts.
1832, [Isaac Taylor], Saturday Evening. […], London: Holdsworth and Ball
third-person singular simple present bays, present participle baying, simple past and past participle bayed
(intransitive) To howl. quotations examples
The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bay'd.
1700, [John] Dryden, “Theodore and Honoria, from Boccace”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]
For at the last shall the thunder, fleeing to escape from the doom of the gods, roar horribly among the Worlds; and Time, the hound of the gods, shall bay hungrily at his masters because he is lean with age.
1905, [Edward Plunkett,] Lord Dunsany, The Gods of Pegāna, London: Elkin Mathews, […], page 92
The scene was rocking, all were digging the soundsIgor on chains, backed by his baying houndsThe coffin-bangers were about to arriveWith their vocal group, The Crypt-Kicker Five.
1962, “Monster Mash”, Bobby "Boris" Pickett and Lenny Capizzi (lyrics), performed by Bobby (Boris) Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers
(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay. quotations examples
Spit, and throw stones, cast mire upon me, set / The dogs o'th' street to bay me
a. 1611, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, act 5, scene 5, lines 222–223
(transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds. examples
comparative bayer or more bay, superlative bayest or most bay
Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses). examples
countable and uncountable, plural bays
A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses. examples
A horse of this color. quotations examples
[…] browns are the soberest, bays are the worst tempered, and chestnuts are the most foolish.
1877, George Nevile, Horses and Riding, page 105