bray

[ brey ]

/ breɪ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bray ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.

any similar loud, harsh sound.

verb (used without object)

to utter a loud and harsh cry, as a donkey.

to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound.

verb (used with object)

to utter with a loud, harsh sound, like a donkey.

RELATED WORDS

yell, neigh, hee-haw

Nearby words

brawny, braxton hicks contractions, braxton hicks sign, braxton-hicks contraction, braxy, bray, brayer, braz., braza, braze, brazelton

Origin of bray

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

Can be confusedbraid brayed

Definition for bray (2 of 2)

bray

[ brey ]

/ breɪ /

verb (used with object)

to pound or crush fine, as in a mortar.

Printing. to thin (ink) on a slate before placing on the ink plate of a press.

Origin of bray

1350–1400; Middle English brayen < Anglo-French bra(i)er, Old French broier < Germanic; see break

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bray

Bray liked how it invoked the founding father “rising up from the grave.”
Meet Madison Rising, the Band Behind Sarah Palin's New Theme Song|Ben Jacobs|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bray said he knows everyone hates those bands, but that he still enjoys their music.
Meet Madison Rising, the Band Behind Sarah Palin's New Theme Song|Ben Jacobs|March 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bray selected a different student each time to lead the class in prayer and participated in the prayers herself.
The Louisiana Public School Cramming Christianity Down Students’ Throats|Andrew Cohen|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The immigrant groups and unions were receptive, but Bray said Occupiers see a danger there.
As May Day Protests Are Planned, Will Wall Street Be Re-Occupied?|Matthew DeLuca|April 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Though the national media may bray and belittle her, they continue to pay attention to her.
She Is Running!|Mark McKinnon|July 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
We couldn't wreck like that again; and, what's more, we shouldn't let an ass like Bray make so many runs again.
The Loom of Youth|Alec Waugh
Long may Bray remain as it is, unaltered and a tiny village.
The Thames|G. E. Mitton
He then begins to bray, arouses the watchmen, and receives a sound drubbing.
A History of Sanskrit Literature|Arthur A. MacDonell
"Unfortunately, she met me just as I was at my own door, and so found out my residence," continued Mrs. Bray.
Cast Adrift|T. S. Arthur
And she pushed Mrs. Bray out into the vestibule and shut the door after her.
Cast Adrift|T. S. Arthur

British Dictionary definitions for bray (1 of 2)

bray

/ (breɪ) /

verb

(intr) (of a donkey) to utter its characteristic loud harsh sound; heehaw

(intr) to make a similar sound, as in laughinghe brayed at the joke

(tr) to utter with a loud harsh sound

noun

the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey

a similar loud cry or uproara bray of protest

Derived Formsbrayer, noun

Word Origin for bray

C13: from Old French braire, probably of Celtic origin

British Dictionary definitions for bray (2 of 2)

bray

/ (breɪ) /

verb

(tr) to distribute (ink) over printing type or plates

(tr) to pound into a powder, as in a mortar

Northern English dialect to hit or beat (someone or something) hard; bang

Derived Formsbrayer, noun

Word Origin for bray

C14: from Old French breier of Germanic origin; see break

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

Word Origin and History for bray (1 of 2)

bray

c.1300, from Old French braire "to cry," from Gallo-Romance *bragire "to cry out," perhaps from a Celtic source (cf. Gaelic braigh "to shriek, crackle"), probably imitative. Related: Brayed; braying.

Word Origin and History for bray (1 of 2)

bray

c.1300, from bray (v.).