bray
1the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.
any similar loud, harsh sound.
to utter a loud and harsh cry, as a donkey.
to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound.
to utter with a loud, harsh sound, like a donkey.
Origin of bray
1Words that may be confused with bray
- braid, brayed
Other definitions for bray (2 of 2)
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
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bray in a sentence
"An ass that brays is wiser than the man who asks what can't be answered," he said, under his breath.
How It Happened | Kate Langley BosherThe Swiss correspondence which follows is chiefly addressed to the Brays collectively, and describes the life minutely.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. I (of 3) | George EliotHere Miss Evans determined to remain for some months, the Brays returning home.
George Eliot's Life, Vol. I (of 3) | George EliotHis helmet is a barbers basin, his horse, Rosinante, and a labourers donkey brays at the sight of his coat-of-arms.
Bouvard and Pcuchet, part 2 | Gustave FlaubertThe hound loses the scent and brays on blunderingly till he picks it up again.
Whispering Wires | Henry Leverage
British Dictionary definitions for bray (1 of 2)
/ (breɪ) /
(intr) (of a donkey) to utter its characteristic loud harsh sound; heehaw
(intr) to make a similar sound, as in laughing: he brayed at the joke
(tr) to utter with a loud harsh sound
the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey
a similar loud cry or uproar: a bray of protest
Origin of bray
1Derived forms of bray
- brayer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for bray (2 of 2)
/ (breɪ) /
(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
Origin of bray
2Derived forms of bray
- brayer, noun
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
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