Bray - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT bray /breɪ/ /breɪ/ IPA guide

Other forms: braying; brayed; brays

When you bray, you make the "hee-haw" sound that a donkey makes. The sound itself is also known as a bray.

A mule or donkey's bray is loud and jarring when compared to the gentle neigh of a pony. If you have a loud, goofy laugh, your friends might describe it as a bray, too. Donkeys bray when they're under stress, and they bray back and forth to each other from separate stalls in a barn. When you argue loudly with your brother, your dad may yell, "I'm tired of hearing you two bray!" The Old French root of bray is braire, "to cry out."

Definitions of bray

noun the cry of a donkey see moresee less type of: cry the characteristic utterance of an animal
verb make a sound characteristic of donkeys synonyms: hee-haw see moresee less type of: emit, let loose, let out, utter express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words)
verb laugh loudly and harshly see moresee less type of: express joy, express mirth, laugh produce laughter
verb reduce to small pieces or particles by pounding or abrading synonyms: comminute, crunch, grind, mash see moresee less types: pulp reduce to pulp pestle grind, mash or pulverize in a mortar mill grind with a mill type of: break up, fragment, fragmentise, fragmentize break or cause to break into pieces

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