adj. & n.
--adj.
1. light-hearted and carefree; mirthful.
2 characterized by cheerfulness or pleasure (a gay life).
3 brightly coloured; showy, brilliant (a gay scarf).
4 colloq. a homosexual. b intended for or used by homosexuals (a gay bar).
Usage:
Generally informal in use, but favoured by homosexuals with ref. to themselves.
5 colloq. dissolute, immoral.
--n. colloq. a homosexual, esp. male.
Phrases and idioms:
Gay Liberation the advocacy of homosexuals' freedom from social discrimination.
Derivatives:
gayness n.
Etymology: ME f. OF gai, of unkn. orig.