bray

UK: /ˈbreɪ/ US: /breɪ/ ,(brā)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bray /breɪ/   n. 

[countable]
1. the loud cry of a donkey.
2. any similar sound.

v. 

3. to utter a bray: [no object]
   The donkey brayed.
   [~ + object]
   He brayed a warning.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bray¹  (brā), n. 

1. the loud, harsh cry of a donkey.
2. any similar loud, harsh sound.

v.i. 

3. to utter a loud and harsh cry, as a donkey.
4. to make a loud, harsh, disagreeable sound.

v.t. 

5. to utter with a loud, harsh sound, like a donkey.

• Celtic; compare Old Irish braigid (he) breaks wind
• Old French braire to cry out (cognate with Medieval Latin bragīre to neigh)
• Middle English brayen 1250–1300

bray²  (brā), v.t. 

1. to pound or crush fine, as in a mortar.
2. Printing to thin (ink) on a slate before placing on the ink plate of a press.

• Gmc; see break
• Anglo-French bra(i)er, Old French broier
• Middle English brayen 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bray / breɪ/ verb

1. (intransitive) (of a donkey) to utter its characteristic loud harsh sound; heehaw
2. (intransitive) to make a similar sound, as in laughing
3. (transitive) to utter with a loud harsh sound

noun

1. the loud harsh sound uttered by a donkey
2. a similar loud cry or uproar

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French braire, probably of Celtic origin