bray

¹ American  

[brey] / breɪ /

noun

brays plural

1. the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.

2. any similar loud, harsh sound.

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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 American  

[brey] / breɪ /

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.

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bray ¹ British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey

2. a similar loud cry or uproar

   a bray of protest

bray ² British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• brayer
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• brays
  plural

Etymology

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; see break

Explanation

When you bray, you make the "hee-haw" sound that a donkey makes. The sound itself is also known as a bray. A mule or donkey's bray is loud and jarring when compared to the gentle neigh of a pony. If you have a loud, goofy laugh, your friends might describe it as a bray, too. Donkeys bray when they're under stress, and they bray back and forth to each other from separate stalls in a barn. When you argue loudly with your brother, your dad may yell, "I'm tired of hearing you two bray!" The Old French root of bray is braire, "to cry out."

Example Sentences

The US-based company has filmed at Bray Studios, in Berkshire, since 2022 and plans to submit its vision for planning permission in the summer.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

"As the new custodians of the world famous Bray Studios, we are committed to long-term stewardship and investment in the community," Amazon said.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

The French manufacturer of adhesives has had a good first four months of the year, shaking off a multi-year losing streak, Bray says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The deadline for plaintiffs on the settlement might fall on either side of the Supreme Court ruling, Berenberg’s Bray says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

To the left was the resort of Bray, a cheerful front of cafes and little shops that in a normal season would be renting out beach chairs and pedal bikes.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan