bass
bass Lexical Profile
bass Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The lowest adult male singing voice, or the lowest pitch range in a musical composition.
"The choir director asked the bass to sing a bit louder during the final movement."
A stringed instrument that produces low-pitched sounds, such as a double bass or a bass guitar.
"She has been playing the bass in a local jazz quartet for several years."
Any of various edible, spiny-finned freshwater or marine fishes of the families Serranidae and Centrarchidae, widely distributed in North America and Europe.
"We spent the morning fishing for largemouth bass on the lake."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'bass' is a heteronym: it is pronounced with a long 'a' (/beɪs/, rhyming with 'base') when referring to low-pitched sounds or instruments, and with a short 'a' (/bæs/, rhyming with 'pass') when referring to the fish.
• Rhymes for bass
Word Origin & Etymology
The musical term originates from Late Middle English 'bas', derived from Italian 'basso' and Late Latin 'bassus', meaning 'short' or 'low'. The fish name originates from Middle English 'bas', from Old English 'bærs' meaning 'perch'.