Word forms: plural bassespronunciation note: Pronounced (beɪs) for meanings [sense 1] to , [sense 4], and (bæs) for meaning [sense 5]. The plural of the noun in meaning , [sense 5] is bass.
1. countable noun
A bass is a man with a very deep singing voice.
...the great Russian bass Chaliapin.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A bass drum, guitar, or other musical instrument is one that produces a very deep sound.
He had found success as a vocalist and bass guitarist with the band.
Synonyms: deep, low, resonant, sonorous More Synonyms of bass
3. variable noun
In popular music, a bass is a bass guitar or a double bass.
They had a bass and a piano and a sax and percussion.
...a supporting cast of musicians on bass, drums, guitar and violin.
Kurt had started out playing bass in a rock band.
4. uncountable noun
On a stereo system or radio, the bass is the ability to reproduce the lower musical notes. The bass is also the knob which controls this.
...larger models which will then give more bass and a higher fidelity sound.
5. variable noun
Bass are edible fish that are found in rivers and the sea. There are several types of bass.
They unloaded their catch of cod and bass.
Bass is a piece of this fish eaten as food.
...a large fresh fillet of sea bass.
bass in British English1
(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
4. informal short for bass guitar, double bass
5.
a.
the low-frequency component of an electrical audio signal, esp in a record player or tape recorder
b.
the knob controlling this on such an instrument
adjective
6.
relating to or denoting the bass
bass pitch
the bass part
7.
denoting the lowest and largest instrument in a family
a bass trombone
Word origin
C15 basbase1; modern spelling influenced by basso
bass in British English2
(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
perch2 (sense 1)
3.
any of various predatory North American freshwater percoid fishes, such as Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass): family Centrarchidae (sunfishes, etc)
See also black bass, rock bass
Word origin
C15: changed from base2, influenced by Italian basso low
bass in British English3
(bæs)
noun
1. another name for bast (sense 1)
2. short for basswood
3. Also called: fish bass
a bast fibre bag for holding an angler's catch
Word origin
C17: changed from bast
bass in American English1
(beɪs)
noun
1.
the range of the lowest male voice, usually from middle C to two or more octaves below
2.
a.
a voice or singer with such a range
b.
an instrument with a similar range within its family; specif., a double bass
c.
a part for such a voice or instrument
3.
a low, deep sound or tone, as of a voice with this range
4.
in four-part harmony, the lowest part
5.
the lower part of the audio-frequency band in sound reproduction
adjective
6.
of, for, or having the range of a bass
Word origin
ME bas, base2; sp. infl. by It basso
bass in American English2
(bæs)
nounWord forms: pluralbass or ˈbasses
any of various families of spiny-finned percoid, food and game fishes of fresh or salt water, including black bass, rock bass, and striped bass
Word origin
ME bas, earlier baers < OE bærs < IE *bhors-, point, bristle (in reference to the dorsal fins) < base *bhar- > bur1
bass in American English3
(bæs)
noun
1.
bast
2.
basswood
Examples of 'bass' in a sentence
bass
Where does Chilean sea bass come from?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Best laughs in deep bass, a big man.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's a pretty collection of jazz and blues covers set to a simple guitar and upright bass setting.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There should have been a higher allowance in return for work on how to avoid catching bass, such as identifying where there are concentrations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I bought myself quite an expensive electric bass guitar, so it could be about an electric bass guitar.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She is tiny, and the bass guitar is huge, but the experience is thrilling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It sounded like a bass drum when she hit the ground.
The Sun (2008)
We give the recipe for the larger bass steamed in seaweed stock with a vermouth sauce.
Conil, Jean & Conil, Christopher (ed) A Passion for Food (1989)
They come in a range of goodlooking colours and sound good with strong bass and greatclarity.
The Sun (2014)
Grill the sea bass fillets for two minutes each side.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The guitars and bass seemed to help.
Christianity Today (2000)
He invited him to play bass in his band and gave him his nickname.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He turned out to be a fantastic bass player.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Melody and bass or inside parts as well?
Evans, Andrew The Secrets of Musical Confidence (1994)
This works especially well with sea bream and sea bass.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This track has a fantastic brass section and a wonderful bass line.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
For the ground bass of recurrent sound is poetic metre.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Once inside he removed the large bass from its tank.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has a beautiful bass voice.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Just what we needed after the morning's ordeal by double bass and piano.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They're comfortable and offer deep bass like no other.
The Sun (2010)
The fish was all salmon, cod and sea bass.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Then he glances up, grins and unleashes a deep bass chuckle.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I was one of three bass singers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The design blocks out almost all noise, letting them pack a great bass punch and convey loads of musical detail.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I'd better get a friend to send you a free bass instrument.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I would say Bristol is still predominantly drum and bass but it is evolving into a house city.
The Sun (2014)
Nor did the Czech tenor and bass give us the full Verdi.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They won't convert all your tunes to a reggae beat but they do deliver a nice crisp bass tone - and they look pretty sharp too.
The Sun (2016)
Word lists with
bass
Types of fish
In other languages
bass
British English: bass /beɪs/ NOUN
A bass is a man with a deep singing voice.
...the great Russian bass Chaliapin.
American English: bass
Arabic: الـجَهِير
Brazilian Portuguese: baixo
Chinese: 男低音
Croatian: bas
Czech: bas
Danish: bas
Dutch: bas voice
European Spanish: bajo
Finnish: basso
French: basse
German: Bass
Greek: μπάσο
Italian: basso
Japanese: バス 声楽
Korean: 베이스
Norwegian: havabbor zoo
Polish: bas
European Portuguese: baixo
Romanian: bas
Russian: бас low voice
Latin American Spanish: bajo grave
Swedish: bas
Thai: นักร้องโทนเสียงต่ำ
Turkish: bas
Ukrainian: бас
Vietnamese: giọng nam trầm
British English: bass ADJECTIVE
A bass drum, guitar, or other musical instrument is one that produces a very deep sound.
...bass guitarist in this evening's performance.
American English: bass
Brazilian Portuguese: grave
Chinese: 低音的鼓、吉他等乐器
European Spanish: de bajo
French: groose caisse {or} guitare basse
German: Bass-
Italian: basso
Japanese: 低音の
Korean: 베이스의
European Portuguese: grave
Latin American Spanish: de bajo
All related terms of 'bass'
bass clef
the clef that establishes F a fifth below middle C on the fourth line of the staff
bass drum
a large shallow drum of low and indefinite pitch
bass horn
an obsolete wind instrument of low range
bass tuba
a tuba pitched in F or E-flat
bass viol
→ viola da gamba
fish bass
a bast fibre bag for holding an angler's catch
rock bass
a North American freshwater percoid fish , Ambloplites rupestris : an important food fish; family Centrarchidae ( sunfishes , etc)
sea bass
any of various American coastal percoid fishes of the genus Centropristes and related genera, such as C. striatus ( black sea bass ), having an elongated body with a long spiny dorsal fin almost divided into two: family Serranidae
slap bass
a rock or jazz style of playing the electric or double bass in which the strings are plucked and released so as to vibrate sharply against the fretboard or fingerboard
the bass
the lowest part in a piece of harmony
bass fiddle
a stringed instrument, the largest and lowest member of the violin family. Range: almost three octaves upwards from E in the space between the fourth and fifth leger lines below the bass staff. It is normally bowed in classical music, but it is very common in a jazz or dance band, where it is practically always played pizzicato
bass flute
the lowest instrument in the flute family, pitched one octave below the concert flute
bass guitar
a guitar that has the same pitch and tuning as a double bass , usually electrically amplified
bass player
a player of a double bass or a bass guitar
bass reflex
a loudspeaker equipped with a baffle having openings designed to improve the reproduction of low-frequency sounds
bass-relief
sculpture in low relief , in which the forms project slightly from the background but no part is completely detached from it
Bass Strait
a channel between mainland Australia and Tasmania , linking the Indian Ocean and the Tasman Sea
black bass
any of several predatory North American percoid freshwater game fishes of the genus Micropterus : family Centrarchidae ( sunfishes , etc)
buffo bass
(in Italian opera of the 18th century) a bass singer who performs such a comic part
calico bass
→ crappie
double bass
A double bass is the largest instrument in the violin family. You play the double bass with a bow while standing up and holding it upright in front of you.
ground bass
a short melodic bass line that is repeated over and over again
stone bass
a large sea perch , Polyprion americanus, of the Atlantic and Mediterranean
string bass
→ double bass
white bass
a silvery , striped , North American, freshwater food and game bass ( Morone chrysops ) of the same family (Percichthyidae) as striped bass
bass-baritone
a singer or voice in the bass range with baritone qualities
bass clarinet
a clarinet with the lowest range, in the octave below the B-flat clarinet
bass response
the response of an audio reproduction system or component to low frequencies
bass trombone
the lower-pitched of the two main types of trombone
figured bass
a shorthand method of indicating a thorough-bass part in which each bass note is accompanied by figures indicating the intervals to be played in the chord above it in the realization
striped bass
a silvery , dark-striped, food and game bass ( Morone saxatilis ) of the same family (Percichthyidae) as white bass, found along the coasts of North America: it goes up rivers to spawn
thorough bass
(esp during the baroque period) a bass part underlying a piece of concerted music. It is played on a keyboard instrument, usually supported by a cello , viola da gamba , etc
upright bass
→ double bass
walking bass
a simple accompaniment played by the double bass at medium tempo , usually consisting of ascending and descending tones or semitones , one to each beat
bass guitarist
a player of the bass guitar
drum'n'bass
a type of electronic dance music using mainly bass guitar and drum sounds
largemouth bass
a common North American freshwater black bass , Micropterus salmoides: a popular game fish
smallmouth bass
a North American freshwater black bass , Micropterus dolomieu, that is a popular game fish
black sea bass
an American coastal percoid fish, Centropristes striatus , having an elongated body with a long spiny dorsal fin almost divided into two
fundamental bass
a theoretical bass line of the roots of a succession of chords
Chilean sea bass
a large food fish, Dissostichus eleginoides , found in the cold deep waters of the southern Atlantic and Indian oceans
gran cassa
a large shallow drum of low and indefinite pitch
largemouth (black) bass
a black bass ( Micropterus salmoides ) found in warm , sluggish waters
red drum
a large, edible drum fish ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) of the Atlantic coast of the U.S.
tuba
A tuba is a large musical instrument of the brass family which produces very low notes. It consists of a long metal tube folded round several times with a wide opening at the end. You play the tuba by blowing into it.
tubae
a valved brass instrument of bass pitch , in which the bell points upwards and the mouthpiece projects at right angles. The tube is of conical bore and the mouthpiece cup-shaped