[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bray/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / bray

# bray

verb (bray, brays, brayed, braying); noun (a bray, brays)

«bray» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To make the loud, harsh noise of a donkey (hee-haw). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#m1)
2. (of people) To laugh or talk loudly and unpleasantly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#m2)
3. (noun) The sound a donkey makes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#m3)
4. To cry out in a loud, harsh voice, especially in pain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories and farm topics, donkeys bray. In descriptions, a braying laugh is loud and annoying. In nativity and Bible stories, a donkey may bray in the stable. Phrases: donkey's bray, braying laugh.

### Examples

- The donkey brayed loudly at the gate. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x1)
- We heard a loud bray from the field. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x2)
- The man's braying laugh filled the café. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x3)
- Hee-haw is how we write a donkey's bray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x4)
- The donkey brayed when it wanted its dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x5)
- A trumpet in the band brayed out of tune. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x6)
- Pinocchio screamed with pain and as he screamed he brayed: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: brayed. Bray is also a seaside town in Ireland (a name).

## In Jewish tradition

To cry out like a donkey, or in Proverbs to pound grain in a mortar.

**Interpretation.** Job uses it for outcasts crying out in misery. Proverbs teaches that even harsh treatment will not make a fool wise.

### Examples

- Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together. (Writings JOB.30.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bray/#x1)
- Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? (Writings JOB.6.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bray/#x2)
- Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. (Writings PRO.27.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bray/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb: brayed. Bray is also a seaside town in Ireland (a name).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bray/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bray.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «bray» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bray/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bray» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bray.html) on Mova free.