1. Geography:
* A body of water partially enclosed by land: This is the most common meaning. Bays are usually smaller than gulfs and often have a wider opening to the sea.
* Example: "The ship sailed into San Francisco Bay."
2. Architecture:
* A window or door that is recessed into a wall: This is often seen in traditional architecture.
* Example: "The house had beautiful bay windows that overlooked the garden."
3. Animal:
* A reddish-brown horse: This refers to a specific breed of horse.
* Example: "The bay horse galloped across the field."
4. Color:
* A reddish-brown color: This meaning is related to the horse breed and is often used to describe the color of things like hair or fur.
* Example: "She had beautiful bay hair."
5. Other:
* A small compartment or recess: This is a less common meaning, often used in technical contexts.
* Example: "The engine had a bay for the oil filter."
To understand the meaning of "bay" in a particular sentence, you need to consider the context.