Dictionary.com

bray

1
[ brey ]
/ breɪ /
Save This Word!
See 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.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bray

1
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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bray

braid, brayed

Words nearby bray

Brawley, brawn, brawny, Braxton Hicks contractions, braxy, bray, brayer, Braz., braza, braze, Brazelton

Other definitions for bray (2 of 2)

bray2
[ 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

2
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. 2023

Words related to bray

neigh, yell

How to use bray in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bray (1 of 2)

bray1
/ (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 forms of bray

brayer, noun

Word Origin for bray

C13: from Old French braire, probably of Celtic origin

British Dictionary definitions for bray (2 of 2)

bray2
/ (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 forms of bray

brayer, 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
FEEDBACK