Library / English Dictionary

BRAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The cry of an ass

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("bray" is a kind of...):

cry (the characteristic utterance of an animal)

Derivation:

bray (laugh loudly and harshly)

bray (braying characteristic of donkeys)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Laugh loudly and harshly

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "bray" is one way to...):

express joy; express mirth; laugh (produce laughter)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

bray (the cry of an ass)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading

Example:

mash the garlic

Synonyms:

bray; comminute; crunch; grind; mash

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "bray" is one way to...):

break up; fragment; fragmentise; fragmentize (break or cause to break into pieces)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bray"):

pulp (reduce to pulp)

pestle (grind, mash or pulverize in a mortar)

mill (grind with a mill)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Braying characteristic of donkeys

Synonyms:

bray; hee-haw

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "bray" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

bray (the cry of an ass)

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