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Webster 1913 Edition

Bass

Bass

(bȧs)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Bass
, and sometimes
Basses
(bȧs′ĕz)
.
[A corruption of
barse
.]
(Zool.)
1.
An edible, spiny-finned fish, esp. of the genera
Roccus
,
Labrax
, and related genera. There are many species.
☞ The common European bass is
Labrax lupus
. American species are: the striped bass (
Roccus lineatus
); white or silver bass of the lakes (
Roccus chrysops
); brass or yellow bass (
Roccus interruptus
).
2.
The two American fresh-water species of black bass (genus
Micropterus
). See
Black bass
.
3.
Species of
Serranus
, the sea bass and rock bass. See
Sea bass
.
4.
The southern, red, or channel bass (
Sciæna ocellata
). See
Redfish
.
☞ The name is also applied to many other fishes. See
Calico bass
, under
Calico
.

Bass

,
Noun.
[A corruption of
bast
.]
1.
(Bot.)
The linden or lime tree, sometimes wrongly called
whitewood
; also, its bark, which is used for making mats. See
Bast
.
2.
(Pron. [GREEK])
A hassock or thick mat.

Bass

(bās)
,
Noun.
[F.
basse
, fr.
bas
low. See
Base
,
Adj.
]
1.
A bass, or deep, sound or tone.
2.
(Mus.)
(a)
The lowest part in a musical composition.
(b)
One who sings, or the instrument which plays, bass.
[Written also
base
.]
Thorough bass
.
See
Thorough bass
.

Bass

,
Adj.
Deep or grave in tone.
Bass clef
(Mus.)
,
the character placed at the beginning of the staff containing the bass part of a musical composition.
[See Illust. under
Clef
.] –
Bass voice
,
a deep-sounding voice; a voice fitted for singing bass.

Bass

,
Verb.
T.
To sound in a deep tone.
[R.]
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bass

B'ASS

,
Noun.
[It has no plural.] The name of several species of fish. In England, this name is given to a species of perch, called by some the sea-wolf, from its voracity, and resembling, in a degree, the trout in shape, but having a larger head. It weighs about fifteen pounds. In the northern states of America, this name is given to a striped fish which grows to the weight of 25 or 30
53
pounds, and which enters the rivers; the perca ocellata.
A species of striped fish, of a darker color, with a large head, is called sea-bass, as it is never found in fresh water. This fish grows to two or three pounds weight. Both species are well tasted, but the proper bass is a very white and delicious food.

B'ASS

,
Noun.
The linden, lime or tiel tree; called also bass-wood. [See Bast.]
2.
[pron.bas.] A mat to kneel on in churches.

Definition 2024

Bass

Bass

See also: bass, bas, and Baß

English

Proper noun

Bass

  1. A surname​.

Derived terms

German

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Italian basso ‎(“low”), from Latin bassus ‎(“low”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bas/
  • Rhymes: -as

Noun

Bass m ‎(genitive Basses, plural Bässe)

  1. bass (low spectrum of sound; section of musical group; singer; musical instrument)

Declension

Luxembourgish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bɑs/
    Rhymes: -ɑs

Noun

Bass m ‎(uncountable)

  1. (music) bass
  2. itch

bass

bass

See also: bas, Bass, and Baß

English

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -eɪs
  • enPR: bās, IPA(key): /beɪs/
  • Homophone: base

Adjective

bass ‎(comparative more bass, superlative most bass)

  1. Of sound, a voice or an instrument, low in pitch or frequency.
    The giant spoke in a deep, bass, rumbling voice that shook me to my boots.
Translations

Noun

bass ‎(plural basses)

Examples (a bass voice singing a soprano part)
  1. A low spectrum of sound tones.
    Peter adjusted the equalizer on his audio equipment to emphasize the bass.
  2. A section of musical group that produces low-pitched sound, lower than the baritone and tenor.
    The conductor preferred to situate the bass in the middle rear, rather than to one side of the orchestra.
  3. A male singer who sings in the bass range.
    Halfway through middle school, Edgar morphed from a soprano to a bass, much to the amazement and amusement of his fellow choristers.
  4. (music) An instrument that plays in the bass range, in particular a double bass, bass guitar, electric bass or bass synthesiser.
    The musician swung the bass over his head like an axe and smashed it into the amplifier, creating a discordant howl of noise.
  5. The clef sign that indicates that the pitch of the notes is below middle C; a bass clef.
    The score had been written without the treble and bass, but it was easy to pick out which was which based on the location of the notes on the staff.
Synonyms
Coordinate terms
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

bass ‎(third-person singular simple present basses, present participle bassing, simple past and past participle bassed)

  1. To sound in a deep tone.
    • 1623 [1610], William Shakespeare, The Tempest (First Folio ed.), act III, scene iii, lines 99-99
      […] and the Thunder
      (That deepe and dreadfull Organ-Pipe) pronounc'd
      The name of Proſper : it did baſe my Treſpaſſe
Translations

Etymology 2

a smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

From Middle English bas, alteration of bars, from Old English bærs ‎(“a fish, perch”), from Proto-Germanic *barsaz ‎(“perch", literally "prickly fish”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhars-, *bharst- ‎(“prickle, thorn, scale”). Cognate with Dutch baars ‎(“perch, bass”), German Barsch ‎(“perch”). More at barse.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: băs, IPA(key): /bæs/

Noun

bass ‎(countable and uncountable, plural basses or bass)

  1. The perch; any of various marine and freshwater fish resembling the perch, all within the order of Perciformes.
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 3

A corruption of bast.

Noun

bass ‎(plural basses)

  1. The fibrous inner bark of the linden or lime tree, used for making mats.
  2. Fibers from other plants, especially palm trees
  3. Anything made from such fibers, such as a hassock or thick mat.
Derived terms

See also

Cimbrian

Noun

bass n ‎(plural bèssar)

  1. vat; tub

Derived terms

  • bèssle (diminutive)

References

  • “bass” in Umberto Martello Martalar, Alfonso Bellotto, Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Setti Communi vicentini, 1st edition, 1974.

Latvian

Etymology

From Italian

Noun

bass m (1st declension)

  1. bass

Luxembourgish

Verb

bass

  1. second-person singular present indicative of sinn

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin bassus, via Italian basso

Noun

bass m ‎(definite singular bassen, indefinite plural basser, definite plural bassene)

  1. (music) bass; (musical range, person, instrument or group performing in the base range)
  2. (music) short for bassgitar (bass guitar) or kontrabass (double bass)

Derived terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin bassus, via Italian basso

Noun

bass m ‎(definite singular bassen, indefinite plural bassar, definite plural bassane)

  1. (music) bass; (musical range, person, instrument or group performing in the base range)
  2. (music) short for bassgitar (bass guitar) or kontrabass (double bass)

Derived terms

References

Romansch

Alternative forms

  • (Vallader) bas

Etymology

From Late Latin bassus.

Adjective

bass m ‎(f bassa, m pl bass, f pl bassas)

  1. (Rumantsch Grischun, Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surmiran, Puter, Vallader) deep, low

Etymology

Italian basso ‎(“low”), from Latin bassus ‎(“low”).

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