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View synonyms for bass

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.

bass

2

[ bas ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) bass, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) bass·es.
  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.

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

    the bass part

    bass pitch

  2. denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a family

    a bass trombone

bass

2

/ bæs /

noun

  1. See bast
    another name for bast
  2. short for basswood
  3. Also calledfish bass a bast fibre bag for holding an angler's catch

bass

3

/ 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. See perch
    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

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


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Other Words From

  • bassly adverb
  • bassness noun
  • bassy adjective

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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bass1

C15 bas base 1; modern spelling influenced by basso

Origin of bass2

C17: changed from bast

Origin of bass3

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

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Example Sentences

He captures Ramone and his second wife, Barbara, together in the studio in one photo, him on bass, her on guitar.

I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.

Very bass-y house, if I was in my element and playing what I like to play.

The drumbeat and synth bass are as insistent as they are ominous.

It was one night, with Tony Williams on drums and, I think, Richard Davis on bass.

Tony's stool was nearer to the bass keys of the piano, while the sofa Lettice lay upon had certainly been drawn up towards him.

The melody or tune is played on one of the pipes furnished with holes for the purpose, while the other three give a drone, bass.

The chief reason is that g is the top note of the string bass, and is called for in orchestral transcriptions.

Mr. Betts, of London, had one for which he refused the enormous sum of £500, and Dragonetti also refused £800 for a double bass.

According to his plan a "Suitable Bass" tablet is provided just above the rear end of the black keys on each manual.

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