hay
hay
Hay (noun) means Grass that has been cut and dried, used as feed for animals. Example: “The goats ate the hay and then lay down in the straw.”
noun
1
Grass that has been cut and dried, used as feed for animals.
"The goats ate the hay and then lay down in the straw."
"The farmer stacked bales of hay in the barn before winter."
"The horses were given fresh hay every morning."
2
Slang for cannabis or marijuana.
"He joked that the smell coming from the flat was hay, not tobacco."
verb
1
To cut and dry grass for use as animal feed.
"If the weather stays dry, the farmer will hay the lower meadow on Friday."
"We hayed the paddock early so the horses would have plenty of feed in winter."
"They spent the whole weekend haying the back field."
How to use hay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDried grass used to feed livestock, or informally, weed.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "hey" (the greeting) — they sound identical but are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bale of hay
make hay
hay fever
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Word forms
- Plural
- hays
- Third person singular
- hays
- Past tense
- hayed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The goats ate the _____ and then lay down in the straw.
Etymology
From Old English hieg/hig, related to the verb "hew" (to cut down) — hay is literally "the cut stuff."
Related words
Rhymes for hay
See all rhymes for hay →Frequently asked questions
What does “hay” mean?
The word “hay” means grass that has been cut and dried, used as feed for animals. In plain terms, dried grass used to feed livestock, or informally, weed.
How do you pronounce “hay”?
“Hay” is pronounced hay (/heɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hay” in a sentence?
Here is “hay” used in a sentence: “The farmer stacked bales of hay in the barn before winter.”
What part of speech is “hay”?
Depending on how it is used, “hay” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hay” come from?
The word “hay” comes from Old English. From Old English hieg/hig, related to the verb "hew" (to cut down) — hay is literally "the cut stuff.".
Is “hay” a common word?
“Hay” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hay” have?
“Hay” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: grass that has been cut and dried, used as feed for animals.
What is the difference between hay and straw?
Hay is grass or legumes cut and dried while still green, and is used as nutritious animal feed. Straw is the dried, hollow stalks left after grain is harvested, and is used mainly for animal bedding rather than food.
What is the difference between hay and silage?
Both are preserved forage for livestock, but hay is grass dried to a low moisture content, while silage is stored moist and preserved by fermentation. Hay is dry and can be baled, whereas silage is wet and usually kept in sealed conditions.
What are common collocations with hay?
Hay appears in phrases such as 'a bale of hay,' 'hay fever,' 'hit the hay' (meaning to go to bed), and 'make hay.' Despite its name, 'hay fever' is an allergic reaction to pollen rather than to hay itself.
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