bass

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbas 

plural bass or basses

: any of numerous edible marine or freshwater bony fishes (especially families Centrarchidae, Serranidae, and Percichthyidae of the order Perciformes)

bass

2 of 4

adjective

ˈbās 

1

: deep or grave in tone

2

a

: of low pitch

b

: relating to or having the range or part of a bass

bass

3 of 4

noun (2)

ˈbās 

1

a

: the lowest voice part in a 4-part chorus

b

: the lower half of the whole vocal or instrumental tonal range compare treble entry 1

c

: the lowest adult male singing voice

also : a person having this voice

d

: a member of a family of instruments having the lowest range

especially : double bass

2

: a deep or grave tone : a low-pitched sound

bass

4 of 4

noun (3)

ˈbas 

1

: basswood sense 1

2

: a coarse tough fiber from palms

Synonyms

Adjective

• deep
• grave
• low
• throaty

Examples of bass in a Sentence

Adjective

the sound of the bass drum

a man with an impressive bass voice

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The sound is underpinned by a solid bass thanks to the 10.8mm dynamic drivers used in each earpiece that cover an impressive frequency range of 15 to 25kHz. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Don't expect to hear any bass, and note that audio can get distorted when approaching maximum volume. —PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024

Cellos and basses then took up that figure with lusty force, like a rugby scrum pushing downfield. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

And her gossamer guitar strums are as faint as whispers, keeping time alongside echoey taps and supple upright bass. —Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English base, bærs, from Old English bærs; akin to Old High German bersich perch

Adjective

Middle English bas base — more at base entry 3

Noun (2)

Middle English bas, noun derivative of bas base entry 2

Noun (3)

alteration of bast

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (3)

1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bass

• bass clef
• bass drum
• bass fiddle
• bass horn
• bass viol
• black bass
• calico bass
• channel bass
• Chilean sea bass
• double bass
• figured bass
• ground bass
• kelp bass
• largemouth bass
• palmetto bass
• rock bass
• sea bass
• smallmouth bass
• string bass
• striped bass
• sunshine bass
• white bass
• whiterock bass
• white sea bass

Kids Definition

bass

1 of 2 noun

ˈbas 

plural bass or basses

: any of various spiny-finned freshwater or saltwater sport and food fishes

bass

2 of 2 noun

ˈbās 

1

a

: the lowest musical part in harmony for four parts compare alto sense 1b, soprano entry 2 sense 1, tenor sense 2a

b

: the lower half of a musical tone range compare treble

2

a

: the lowest male singing voice or a person who has this voice

b

: a person or instrument performing the bass part

bass adjective

Etymology

Noun

Old English bærs "bass"

Noun

Middle English bas (adjective) "being or having a low solemn tone"