■ adjective ( ~er , ~est )
1》 (especially of a man) homosexual.
↘relating to or used by homosexuals.
2》 dated light-hearted and carefree.
3》 dated brightly coloured; showy.
■ noun a homosexual person, especially a man.
Derivatives
~ness noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. gai , of unknown origin.
Usage
Gay meaning ‘homosexual’ is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves, and is now the standard accepted term in English. As a result, the centuries-old other senses of ~ meaning either ‘carefree’ or ‘showy’ have largely dropped out of natural use.