Definition of "bay" in English

noun

1. (geography) A body of water (especially the sea) contained by a concave shoreline.

   • This hotel has a great view across the bay.

2. A bank or dam to keep back water.

noun

1. (countable) A tree or shrub of species Laurus nobilis (family Lauraceae), having dark green leaves and berries.

2. (uncountable) Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.

3. (uncountable) Mahogany of species Swietenia macrophylla obtained from Campeche in Mexico.

4. (in the plural, now rare) The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.

5. (US, dialect) A tract covered with bay trees.

6. (obsolete) A berry.

noun

1. An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.

2. An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.

3. A display unit in a shop or store, especially a large metal one

   • end bay
   • gondola bay
   • wall bay

4. The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.

5. (nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.

6. (rail transport) A bay platform.

7. A bay window.

8. A room for editing video footage or physical film.

noun

1. The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.

2. (by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.

3. (figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.

verb

1. (intransitive) To howl.

2. (transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.

   • to bay the bear

3. (transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.

adjective

1. (especially of horses) Of a reddish-brown colour.

noun

1. A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.

2. A horse of this color.