I. gay 1 S3 W3 /ɡeɪ/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: gai 'happy' ]
1 . if someone, especially a man, is gay, they are sexually attracted to people of the same sex SYN homosexual ⇨ straight , lesbian :
the gay community in London
gay men and lesbians
a gay bar
a campaigner for gay rights (=equal treatment for gay people)
2 . old-fashioned bright or attractive:
gay colours
3 . old-fashioned cheerful and excited:
She felt excited and quite gay.
4 . with gay abandon in a careless way, without careful thought
—gayness noun [uncountable]
⇨ ↑ gaily , ↑ gaiety
II. gay 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
someone who is ↑ homosexual , especially a man