bray

¹

[ brey ]

noun

1. the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.
2. any similar loud, harsh sound.

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a loud and harsh cry, as a donkey.
2. to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with a loud, harsh sound, like a donkey.

bray

²

[ brey ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pound or crush fine, as in a mortar.
2. Printing. to thin (ink) on a slate before placing on the ink plate of a press.

bray

¹

/ breɪ /

verb

1. tr to distribute (ink) over printing type or plates
2. tr to pound into a powder, as in a mortar
3. dialect.
   to hit or beat (someone or something) hard; bang

bray

²

/ breɪ /

verb

1. intr (of a donkey) to utter its characteristic loud harsh sound; heehaw
2. intr to make a similar sound, as in laughing

   he brayed at the joke

3. tr to utter with a loud harsh sound

noun

1. the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey
2. a similar loud cry or uproar

   a bray of protest

Derived Forms

• ˈbrayer, noun
• ˈbrayer, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bray¹

1250–1300; Middle English brayen < Old French braire to cry out (cognate with Medieval Latin bragīre to neigh) < Celtic; compare Old Irish braigid (he) breaks wind

Origin of bray²

1350–1400; Middle English brayen < Anglo-French bra ( i ) er, Old French broier < Germanic; break

Word History and Origins

Origin of bray¹

C14: from Old French breier of Germanic origin; see break

Origin of bray²

C13: from Old French braire , probably of Celtic origin

Example Sentences

Basilicò heard a donkey braying in the distance and followed the sounds with the hope of finding the path.

From Outside Online

Bray liked how it invoked the founding father “rising up from the grave.”

From The Daily Beast

Bray said he knows everyone hates those bands, but that he still enjoys their music.

From The Daily Beast

Bray selected a different student each time to lead the class in prayer and participated in the prayers herself.

From The Daily Beast

Christopher Bray on a new book that presents the famed director at his uncensored maddening best.

From The Daily Beast

The immigrant groups and unions were receptive, but Bray said Occupiers see a danger there.

From The Daily Beast

Dr. Thomas Bray may stand as a fit representative of another class of Nelson's friends and associates.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Max Bray lit a cigar, and sat thinking over the events of the past few days, and of what he had done.

From Project Gutenberg

Max Bray arranged all future matters to his entire satisfaction, but again there were contingencies that he could not foresee.

From Project Gutenberg

But from the Bray family themselves came not one word of rebuke or complaint.

From Project Gutenberg

There were three other passengers in the train this time; but a movement upon the part of Max Bray now troubled her.

From Project Gutenberg