bass

[ beys ]

/ beɪs /

Music.

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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.

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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, adverbbassness, nounbassy, adjective

Other definitions for bass (2 of 4)

bass²

[ bas ]

/ bæs /

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 ]

/ bæs /

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 ]

/ bæs /

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. 2022

How to use bass in a sentence

If you live above a bar or a music establishment, you not only hear the bass, but if you’re lying in bed, you will feel it.
Please Get Your Noise Out of My Ears (Ep. 439)|Stephen J. Dubner|November 12, 2020|Freakonomics
This was the early 1990s, and Richard had cut his teeth working for the Bass family, creating wealth and a legend for himself by identifying great talent and making brilliant deals.
From mentorship to friendship to love: What I learned from three investing giants|matthewheimer|November 10, 2020|Fortune
When Phillips and Wareham first met in 2000, she was auditioning to be Luna’s new bass player.
At home, forever and ever, with Dean & Britta|Nate Rogers|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
I had a Ranger bass boat with all the bells and whistles, and I thought, Aw, this is the stuff.
Don’t have a boat? Try bowfishing.|By Natalie Krebs/Outdoor Life|November 3, 2020|Popular-Science

Soundcore’s BassUp technology actively monitors your music and enhances bass response as you listen to deliver intense beats, and the speakers' frequency response features extended treble that stretches up to 40 kilohertz.
Over-the-ear headphones that will be music to your ears|PopSci Commerce Team|October 27, 2020|Popular-Science
His bassy, back-of-the-throat syllables are straighter and sexier; his yowls are more pointed and pained.
Is Mick Jagger Too Old to Rock?|Andrew Romano|July 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"Bassy had a great deal of trouble with the choir this evening," said Mrs. Simpson plaintively.
That Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 1(of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope
Or at least it would be more proper to say that Major Mitton recommended Bassy to them!
That Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 1(of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope
Bassy, for instance, cannot altogether approve the new school.
That Unfortunate Marriage, Vol. 2(of 3)|Frances Eleanor Trollope

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 harmonySee 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 bassbass pitch; the bass part

denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a familya bass trombone

Word Origin for 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 oneSee also sea bass, stone bass

the European perchSee perch 2 (def. 1)

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

Word Origin for bass

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

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

Word Origin for 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.)

bass

Origin of bass

OTHER WORDS FROM bass

Other definitions for bass (2 of 4)

Origin of bass

Other definitions for bass (3 of 4)

Origin of bass

Other definitions for bass (4 of 4)

Words related to bass

How to use bass in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bass (1 of 3)

Word Origin for bass

British Dictionary definitions for bass (2 of 3)

Word Origin for bass

British Dictionary definitions for bass (3 of 3)

Word Origin for bass

Cultural definitions for bass