noun
Uncommon
bai
Bai (noun) means a waterlogged, open meadow found in forested parts of sub-Saharan Africa, often visited by large wildlife. Example: “Elephants gathered at the bai each evening to drink and forage.”
noun
1
A waterlogged, open meadow found in forested parts of sub-Saharan Africa, often visited by large wildlife.
"Elephants gathered at the bai each evening to drink and forage."
"Researchers set up hidden cameras overlooking the bai to study gorilla behavior."
2
A yellowish haze of wind-blown dust that appears seasonally over parts of China and Japan.
"The bai settled over the city, dulling the sunlight for days."
How to use bai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a marshy forest clearing in Africa, or a seasonal dust haze in East Asia — two unrelated senses sharing the same spelling.
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Word forms
- Plural
- bais
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Elephants gathered at the _____ each evening to drink and forage.
Etymology
The dust-haze sense was borrowed from Japanese 霾 (bai), first appearing in English texts in the early twentieth century.
Class of 1900
bai joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
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Baic
Rhymes for bai
See all rhymes for bai →Frequently asked questions
What does “bai” mean?
The word “bai” means a waterlogged, open meadow found in forested parts of sub-Saharan Africa, often visited by large wildlife. In plain terms, either a marshy forest clearing in Africa, or a seasonal dust haze in East Asia — two unrelated senses sharing the same spelling.
How do you use “bai” in a sentence?
Here is “bai” used in a sentence: “Elephants gathered at the bai each evening to drink and forage.”
What part of speech is “bai”?
“Bai” is a noun.
Where does the word “bai” come from?
The word “bai” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Japanese. The dust-haze sense was borrowed from Japanese 霾 (bai), first appearing in English texts in the early twentieth century.
Is “bai” a common word?
“Bai” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bai” have?
“Bai” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a waterlogged, open meadow found in forested parts of sub-Saharan Africa, often visited by large wildlife.
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