I .
/ beɪs; NAmE / noun , adjective
—see also bass (II)
■ noun
1.
[ U ] the lowest tone or part in music, for instruments or voices :
He always plays his stereo with the bass turned right up.
He sings bass.
a pounding bass line
—see also drum and bass
—compare treble
2.
[ C ] a man's singing voice with a low range; a man with a bass voice
—compare alto , baritone , tenor
3.
[ sing. ] a musical part that is written for a bass voice
4.
(also ˌbass guiˈtar ) [ C ] an electric guitar that plays very low notes :
a bass player
bass and drums
Jackie Carrera on (= playing) bass.
5.
[ C ] = double bass
■ adjective
[ only before noun ] low in tone :
a bass voice
the bass clef (= the symbol in music showing that the notes following it are low)
—picture at music
—compare treble
II .
/ bæs; NAmE / noun
[ C , U ] ( pl. bass ) a sea or freshwater fish that is used for food
—see also bass (I)
••
WORD ORIGIN
I . late Middle English : alteration of the adjective base .
II . late Middle English : alteration of dialect barse , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch baars and German Barsch .