bale
1[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /
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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
1First 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, nounOther definitions for bale (2 of 5)
bale2
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /
noun Archaic.
evil; harm; misfortune.
woe; misery; sorrow.
Origin of bale
2First recorded 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”
Other definitions for bale (3 of 5)
Other definitions for bale (4 of 5)
bale4
[ beyl ]
/ beɪl /
verb (used with or without object), baled, bal·ing.
a spelling variant of bail3 (defs. 1, 2, 4).
Other definitions for bale (5 of 5)
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use bale in a sentence
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)
British Dictionary definitions for bale (4 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for bale (5 of 5)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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