bass

¹

[beys]

adjective

1. low in pitch; of the lowest pitch or range.

   a bass voice; a bass instrument.

2. of or relating to the lowest part in harmonic music.

noun

1. the bass part.

2. a bass voice, singer, or instrument.

3. double bass.

bass

²

[bas]

noun

plural

bass ,

plural

basses .

1. any of numerous edible, spiny-finned, freshwater or marine fishes of the families Serranidae and Centrarchidae.

2. (originally) the European perch, Perca fluviatilis.

bass

³

[bas]

noun

1. the basswood or linden.

2. bast.

Bass

⁴

[bas]

noun

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

bass

¹

/ beɪs /

noun

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

2. a singer with such a voice

3. the lowest part in a piece of harmony See also thorough bass

4. informal,  short for bass guitar double bass

5. 1. the low-frequency component of an electrical audio signal, esp in a record player or tape recorder

   2. the knob controlling this on such an instrument

adjective

1. relating to or denoting the bass

   bass pitch

   the bass part

2. denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a family

   a bass trombone

bass

²

/ bæs /

noun

1. 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

2. the European perch See perch 2

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

bass

³

/ bæs /

noun

1. another name for bast

2. short for basswood

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

bass

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

Other Word Forms

• bassly adverb
• bassness noun
• bassy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bass¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bas, bass(e), baas, variant of base ² with ss of basso

Origin of bass²

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 ass ², passel, etc.); cognate with Dutch baars, German Barsch, Old Swedish agh-borre

Origin of bass³

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bass¹

C15 bas _base ¹ ; modern spelling influenced by _basso

Origin of bass²

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

Origin of bass³

C17: changed from _bast

Example Sentences

At Torres, Levy worked as a double bass coach and taught students across all age groups.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A cello’s has the aura of a bass drum.

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At the second smaller stage, dancers shrieked as confetti cannons fired simultaneously with a bass drop, glitter falling like shimmering rain.

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The sea bass and bream are always tasty.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The British bass player had plans to tour the U.K. between September 2026 and June 2027, on an intimate conversation tour where he would share stories from the most pivotal moments in his career.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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