bass

[ beys ]

See synonyms for bass on Thesaurus.com

adjective

low in pitch; of the lowest pitch or range: a bass voice; a bass instrument.
of or relating to the lowest part in harmonic music.

noun

the bass part.
a bass voice, singer, or instrument.

double bass.

Origin of bass

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bas, bass(e), baas, variant of base² with ss of basso

Other words from bass

bassly, adverb
bassness, noun
bassy, adjective

Words Nearby bass

Other definitions for bass (2 of 4)

bass²

[ bas ]

noun,plural (especially collectively) bass, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) bass·es.

any of numerous edible, spiny-finned, freshwater or marine fishes of the families Serranidae and Centrarchidae.
(originally) the European perch, Perca fluviatilis.

Origin of bass

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English bas(e), bace, earlier bærs, Old English bærs, bears (with loss of r before s as in ass², passel, etc.); cognate with Dutch baars, German Barsch, Old Swedish agh-borre

Other definitions for bass (3 of 4)

bass³

[ bas ]

noun

the basswood or linden.
bast.

Origin of bass

First recorded in 1675–85; variant of bast with unexplained loss of -t

Other definitions for Bass (4 of 4)

Bass

[ bas ]

noun

Sam, 1851–78, U.S. outlaw: bank and train robber in the West.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bass in a sentence

He captures Ramone and his second wife, Barbara, together in the studio in one photo, him on bass, her on guitar.
‘All Good Cretins Go to Heaven’: Dee Dee Ramone’s Twisted Punk Paintings | Melissa Leon | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham | P. J. O’Rourke | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Very bass-y house, if I was in my element and playing what I like to play.
Idris Elba on Eric Garner, ‘Mi Mandela,’ and Selling Weed to Dave Chappelle | Marlow Stern | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The drumbeat and synth bass are as insistent as they are ominous.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent? | David Yaffe | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
It was one night, with Tony Williams on drums and, I think, Richard Davis on bass.
Herbie Hancock Holds Forth | David Yaffe | November 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

Tony's stool was nearer to the bass keys of the piano, while the sofa Lettice lay upon had certainly been drawn up towards him.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
The melody or tune is played on one of the pipes furnished with holes for the purpose, while the other three give a drone, bass.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing Miller
The chief reason is that g is the top note of the string bass, and is called for in orchestral transcriptions.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing Miller
Mr. Betts, of London, had one for which he refused the enormous sum of £500, and Dragonetti also refused £800 for a double bass.
Violins and Violin Makers | Joseph Pearce
According to his plan a "Suitable bass" tablet is provided just above the rear end of the black keys on each manual.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building | George Laing Miller

British Dictionary definitions for bass (1 of 3)

bass¹

/ (beɪs) /

noun

the lowest adult male voice usually having a range from E a 13th below middle C to D a tone above it
a singer with such a voice

the bass the lowest part in a piece of harmony: See also thorough bass
informal short for bass guitar, double bass
- the low-frequency component of an electrical audio signal, esp in a record player or tape recorder
- the knob controlling this on such an instrument

adjective

relating to or denoting the bass: bass pitch; the bass part
denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a family: a bass trombone

Origin of bass

C15 bas base 1; modern spelling influenced by basso

British Dictionary definitions for bass (2 of 3)

bass²

/ (bæs) /

noun

any of various sea perches, esp Morone labrax, a popular game fish with one large spiny dorsal fin separate from a second smaller one: See also sea bass, stone bass
the European perch: See perch 2 (def. 1)

any of various predatory North American freshwater percoid fishes, such as Micropterus salmoides, (largemouth bass): family Centrarchidae (sunfishes, etc)

Origin of bass

C15: changed from base ², influenced by Italian basso low

See also black bass, rock bass

British Dictionary definitions for bass (3 of 3)

bass³

/ (bæs) /

noun

another name for bast (def. 1)
short for basswood

Also called: fish bass a bast fibre bag for holding an angler's catch

Origin of bass

C17: changed from bast

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for bass

bass

[ (bays) ]

The lowest range of the male singing voice. (Compare baritone and tenor.)

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