/ beɪ; NAmE / noun , verb , adjective
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a part of the sea, or of a large lake, partly surrounded by a wide curve of the land :
the Bay of Bengal
Hudson Bay
a magnificent view across the bay
2.
[ C ] a marked section of ground either inside or outside a building, for example for a vehicle to park in, for storing things, etc. :
a parking / loading bay
Put the equipment in No 3 bay.
—see also sickbay
3.
[ C ] a curved area of a room or building that sticks out from the rest of the building
4.
[ C ] a horse of a dark brown colour :
He was riding a big bay.
5.
[ C ] a deep noise, especially the noise made by dogs when hunting
6.
(also ˈsweet bay ) [ C ] = bay tree
7.
[ U ] a herb used to give flavour to food, made of the leaves of the bay tree
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IDIOMS
- at bay
- hold / keep sb/sth at bay
■ verb [ v ]
1.
( of a dog or wolf ) to make a long deep sound, especially while hunting
SYN howl :
a pack of baying hounds
2.
bay (for sth) (usually used in the progressive tenses) to demand sth in a loud and angry way :
The referee's decision left the crowd baying for blood (= threatening violence towards him) .
■ adjective
( of a horse ) dark brown in colour :
a bay mare
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WORD ORIGIN
noun sense 1 late Middle English : from Old French baie , from Old Spanish bahia , of unknown origin.
noun senses 2 to 3 late Middle English : from Old French baie , from baer to gape, from medieval Latin batare , of unknown origin.
noun sense 4 and adjective Middle English : from Old French bai , from Latin badius .
verb Middle English (as a noun): from Old French (a)bai (noun), (a)baiier (verb) to bark, of imitative origin.