bay
gb/bˈeɪ/ us/bˈeɪ/
A2
English
~ 1100
öböl, hely, rekesz, tér, pej ló, pej, vonít, csahol, ugat
NOUN
A2
1
öböl
B1
Usage pattern:
[a bay] in [a place]
We spent the afternoon swimming in the calm waters of the bay.
A délutánt az öböl nyugodt vizében úszva töltöttük.
The small town sits on a beautiful bay with white sand beaches.
A kisváros egy gyönyörű, fehér homokos strandokkal szegélyezett öböl partján fekszik.
Ships anchored safely in the bay during the storm.
The bay is home to many species of fish.
Tourists enjoy kayaking around the bay.
Learner examples
The boat is in the bay.
A hajó az öbölben van.
We walk to the bay every morning.
Minden reggel lesétálunk az öbölhöz.
The bay is near my house.
Fish live in the bay.
Many people swim in the bay.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bay' with 'beach'; a beach is sandy land by the water, while a bay is the water area itself.
Meaning
Coastal body of water
Collocations
sandy bay
|coastal bay
|fishing bay
|natural bay
|bay area
Synonyms
inlet (A general term for a narrow or broad indentation of the shoreline, sometimes smaller than a bay.)
|
gulf (Usually refers to a larger area of sea partly enclosed by land than a bay.)
Antonyms
headland (A point of land that sticks out into the sea, opposite of an inward curve like a bay.)
Themes
geography
|nature
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A part of the coast where the sea comes in and is surrounded by land on three sides.
A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[a bay] for [purpose]
The truck is parked in the loading bay.
A teherautó a rakodóhelyen parkol.
He opened the hood to check the engine bay.
Felnyitotta a motorháztetőt, hogy ellenőrizze a motorteret.
Each car has its own parking bay.
The plane was moved into a maintenance bay.
The storage bay is full of boxes.
Learner examples
The car is in a parking bay.
Az autó egy parkolóhelyen áll.
We put boxes in the storage bay.
A dobozokat a tárolórekeszbe tesszük.
The plane is in the maintenance bay.
The loading bay is busy today.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'bay' with 'garage'; a garage is a whole building for vehicles, while a parking bay is just one marked space.
Meaning
Compartment or section
Collocations
loading bay
|engine bay
|parking bay
|storage bay
Synonyms
compartment (A general enclosed space within something, not necessarily for specialized use.)
Antonyms
open space (An area without walls or divisions.)
Themes
architecture
|technology
|transport
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small area or space in a building, vehicle, or machine for a special use.
A section or compartment within a building, vehicle, or machine, often designed for a particular function.
NOUN
B2
3
She rode a beautiful bay across the field.
Egy gyönyörű pej lovon lovagolt át a mezőn.
The stable has several bays and chestnuts.
Az istállóban több pej és sárga ló is van.
His favorite racehorse is a dark bay.
They bought a light bay mare last summer.
Learner examples
The horse is a bay.
A ló pej.
I ride a bay every weekend.
Minden hétvégén egy pej lovon lovagolok.
The farm has two bays.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'bay' with 'brown' when describing horses; 'bay' has specific markings that 'brown' does not imply.
Meaning
Horse color type
Collocations
bay horse
|dark bay
|light bay
Synonyms
chestnut (horse) (A horse color that is reddish-brown all over without black points; different from a bay.)
Antonyms
gray (horse) (A horse color opposite in appearance to reddish-brown with black points.)
Themes
animals
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A horse that is brown with black hair on its mane, tail, and legs.
A horse with a reddish-brown body and black mane, tail, and lower legs.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
[animal] bays at [something]
The hounds bayed at the deer in the forest.
A kopók csaholtak a szarvasra az erdőben.
Dogs were baying all night during the hunt.
A vadászat alatt a kutyák egész éjjel csaholtak.
The guard dog began to bay at the stranger approaching the gate.
Learner examples
The dog bays at the cat.
A kutya hangosan ugat a macskára.
The dogs bay at the moon.
A kutyák a holdra vonítanak.
The hound bays when it sees a fox.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'bay' with 'bark'; 'bark' is any short dog sound, while 'bay' is longer and more drawn out.
Meaning
To bark or howl loudly
Collocations
bay at the moon
|bay loudly
Synonyms
howl (A long, mournful cry; can be used more broadly than 'bay'.)
Antonyms
whimper (A soft, low sound expressing fear or pain; opposite in volume and intensity to 'bay'.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
For a dog or similar animal to make loud, long sounds again and again, usually at something it sees or smells.
To bark or howl loudly and persistently, especially at prey or an intruder.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bay
IPA
GB/bˈeɪ/
US/bˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
bay (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bay)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bay
- Plural: bays
Verb
- Base: bay
- 3rd Person Singular: bays
- Present Participle: baying
- Past: bayed
Word family
Forms
bays
noun
baying
verb
bayed
verb
Related words
bayside
adjective
bayfront
adjective
Expressions
at bay
1/ˈæt bˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Unable to escape but resisting
In a position where you cannot get away but can still fight back or defend yourself.
Examples
- The soldiers kept the enemy at bay until reinforcements arrived.
- Debt collectors were kept at bay by his lawyer's actions.
keep at bay
2/kˈip ˈæt bˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Prevent threat from approaching
To stop something bad from coming close to you or affecting you.
Examples
- Wearing long sleeves can help keep mosquitoes at bay.
- Regular exercise can keep illness at bay.