bass

¹

[beys]

adjective

1. low in pitch; of the lowest pitch or range.

   a bass voice; a bass instrument.

2. of or relating to the lowest part in harmonic music.

noun

1. the bass part.

2. a bass voice, singer, or instrument.

3. double bass.

bass

²

[bas]

noun

plural

bass ,

plural

basses .

1. any of numerous edible, spiny-finned, freshwater or marine fishes of the families Serranidae and Centrarchidae.

2. (originally) the European perch, Perca fluviatilis.

bass

³

[bas]

noun

1. the basswood or linden.

2. bast.

Bass

⁴

[bas]

noun

1. Sam, 1851–78, U.S. outlaw: bank and train robber in the West.

bass

¹

/ beɪs /

noun

1. the lowest adult male voice usually having a range from E a 13th below middle C to D a tone above it

2. a singer with such a voice

3. the lowest part in a piece of harmony See also thorough bass

4. informal,  short for bass guitar double bass

5. 1. the low-frequency component of an electrical audio signal, esp in a record player or tape recorder

   2. the knob controlling this on such an instrument

adjective

1. relating to or denoting the bass

   bass pitch

   the bass part

2. denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a family

   a bass trombone

bass

²

/ bæs /

noun

1. any of various sea perches, esp Morone labrax , a popular game fish with one large spiny dorsal fin separate from a second smaller one See also sea bass stone bass

2. the European perch See perch 2

3. any of various predatory North American freshwater percoid fishes, such as Micropterus salmoides , ( largemouth bass ): family Centrarchidae (sunfishes, etc)

bass

³

/ bæs /

noun

1. another name for bast

2. short for basswood

3. Also called: fish bass. a bast fibre bag for holding an angler's catch

bass

1. The lowest range of the male singing voice. (Compare baritone and tenor.)

Other Word Forms

• bassly adverb
• bassness noun
• bassy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bass¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English bas, bass(e), baas, variant of base ² with ss of basso

Origin of bass²

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English bas(e), bace, earlier bærs, Old English bærs, bears (with loss of r before s as in ass ², passel, etc.); cognate with Dutch baars, German Barsch, Old Swedish agh-borre

Origin of bass³

First recorded in 1675–85; variant of bast with unexplained loss of -t

Word History and Origins

Origin of bass¹

C15 bas _base ¹ ; modern spelling influenced by _basso

Origin of bass²

C15: changed from _base ², influenced by Italian basso low

Origin of bass³

C17: changed from _bast

Example Sentences

“Nowhere Is Where” is silent but lethal, Price’s gorgeously textured voice over an acoustic guitar, small harmonies on the chorus, an upright bass over in the corner, a fiddle underscoring the anguish.

From Salon

He brings along his friend Wyatt, who picks up a bass, and a new band is born.

From Los Angeles Times

Currie had already suspected Parkinson’s — tremors suddenly made playing guitar and bass parts challenging and even walking and singing required more conscious effort — but the confirmation was a blow anyway.

From Los Angeles Times

Their appearance was a sensation – combining sheer technical skill with a thrilling joie de vivre, as they span their double basses, twirled their trumpets and clattered their cowbells, all while clad in Venezuelan-flag jackets.

From BBC

“People have been asking who’s the kid who caught the giant sea bass.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dark 
• extreme 
• great 
• hard 
• profound 
• rich 
• strong 
• vivid