adjective
Common
bass
bays
Bass (adjective) means Low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument. Example: “She plays a bass guitar in a small band at the weekends.”
adjective
1
Low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument.
"She plays a bass guitar in a small band at the weekends."
"The bass notes from the speakers made the whole floor shake."
"He has a deep, bass voice perfect for radio."
noun
1
The lowest range of musical pitch, or an instrument that plays in that range, such as a bass guitar or double bass.
"The speakers on that stereo give a lot of bass, so the floor shakes."
"She plays bass in a local rock band."
"Turn down the bass a little, it's rattling the windows."
2
Any of various edible fish resembling perch, found in both fresh and salt water.
"The restaurant served grilled bass with lemon and fresh herbs."
"My uncle spends every weekend on the lake hoping to catch a bass."
"They caught two sea bass off the pier."
How to use bass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLow musical pitch or a bass instrument — completely unrelated to the fish that shares the spelling.
Common mistake
Same spelling, two unrelated words: "bass" (music, rhymes with "case") and "bass" (fish, rhymes with "gas").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bass guitar
bass line
sea bass
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Word forms
- Plural
- basses
- Third person singular
- basses
- Past tense
- bassed
- Comparative
- basser
- Superlative
- bassest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She plays a _____ guitar in a small band at the weekends.
Etymology
The musical sense is a respelling of base, influenced by Italian basso, "low." The fish name is unrelated, from Old English.
Related words
Rhymes for bass
See all rhymes for bass →Frequently asked questions
What does “bass” mean?
The word “bass” means low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument. In plain terms, low musical pitch or a bass instrument — completely unrelated to the fish that shares the spelling.
How do you pronounce “bass”?
“Bass” is pronounced bays (/beɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “bass” in a sentence?
Here is “bass” used in a sentence: “He has a deep, bass voice perfect for radio.”
What part of speech is “bass”?
Depending on how it is used, “bass” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “bass” come from?
The word “bass” comes from Old English. The musical sense is a respelling of base, influenced by Italian basso, "low." The fish name is unrelated, from Old English.
Is “bass” a common word?
“Bass” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bass” have?
“Bass” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: low in pitch or frequency, referring to sound, voice, or instrument.
What is the difference between "bass" and "treble"?
"Bass" refers to the lowest range of musical pitch or sound, while "treble" refers to the highest. On audio equipment, turning up the bass boosts the deep, low frequencies, whereas turning up the treble boosts the high ones.
What is the difference between the musical "bass" and the fish "bass"?
These are two different words that happen to share a spelling. The musical "bass," which rhymes with "base," means low in pitch, while the fish "bass," which rhymes with "gas," is a type of fish. Only the low-pitch meaning relates to sound and music.
What is the difference between a "bass guitar" and a "double bass"?
Both play in the low, bass range, but a bass guitar is a fretted, usually electric instrument held like a guitar, while a double bass is the large upright string instrument of the orchestra, played standing and often bowed or plucked. They share a pitch range but differ in size and playing style.
What is the difference between "bass" and "baritone"?
In singing, "bass" is the lowest male voice type, while "baritone" sits above it, between bass and tenor. A bass reaches deeper notes than a baritone.
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