Dictionary.com

bale

1
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR bale

noun

a large bundle or package prepared for shipping, storage, or sale, especially one tightly compressed and secured by wires, hoops, cords, or the like, and sometimes having a wrapping or covering: a bale of cotton; a bale of hay.
a group of turtles.

verb (used with object), baled, bal·ing.

to make or form into bales: to bale wastepaper for disposal.

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Origin of bale

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-Latin bala, Anglo-French bale “pack, bale,” from unattested Frankish balla; compare Old High German balo, akin to balla; see ball1

OTHER WORDS FROM bale

baleless, adjectivebaler, noun

Words nearby bale

Baldwin, Baldwin I, Baldwin, James, Baldwin Park, baldy, bale, Balearic Islands, baleboste, bale cubic, baleen, baleen whale

Definition for bale (2 of 5)

bale2
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

noun Archaic.

evil; harm; misfortune.
woe; misery; sorrow.

Origin of bale

2
before 1000; Middle English; Old English bealu, balu; cognate with Old Norse bǫl,Old Saxon balu,Old High German balo,Gothic balw-; akin to Russian bolʾ pain, OCS bolŭ ill

Definition for bale (3 of 5)

bale3
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

noun

bail2.

Definition for bale (4 of 5)

bale4
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /

verb (used with or without object), baled, bal·ing.

bail3 (defs. 1, 2, 4).

Definition for bale (5 of 5)

Bâle
[ bahl ]
/ bɑl /

noun

French name of Basel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to bale

bundle, parcel, package

Example sentences from the Web for bale

British Dictionary definitions for bale (1 of 5)

bale1
/ (beɪl) /

noun

verb

See also bail out

Word Origin for bale

C14: probably from Old French bale, from Old High German balla ball 1

British Dictionary definitions for bale (2 of 5)

bale2
/ (beɪl) /

noun archaic

evil; injury
woe; suffering; pain

Word Origin for bale

Old English bealu; related to Old Norse böl evil, Gothic balwa, Old High German balo

British Dictionary definitions for bale (3 of 5)

bale3
/ (beɪl) /

verb

a variant spelling of bail 2

British Dictionary definitions for bale (4 of 5)

bale4
/ (beɪl) /

noun

a variant spelling of bail 4

British Dictionary definitions for bale (5 of 5)

Bâle
/ (bɑl) /

noun

the French name for Basle
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