bray /bɹeɪ/verb 5noun 2forms 3 verb5 •Of an animal (now chiefly of animals related to the ass or donkey, and the camel): to make its cry.Whenever I walked by, that donkey brayed at me. •To make a harsh, discordant sound like a donkey's bray.He threw back his head and brayed with laughter. •To make or utter (a shout, sound, etc.) discordantly, loudly, or in a harsh and grating manner.[N]ow storming furie rose, / And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now / Was never, Arms on Armour clashing bray'd / Horrible discord, and the madding Wheeles / Of brazen Chariots rag'd; [...] — 1667 •(UK) To hit (someone or something).If anything he brayed him all the harder – the old family bull recognising his fighting days were close to over. — 2011 •(no longer used) To crush or pound, especially using a pestle and mortar.Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a morter among wheate with a pestell, yet will not his foolishnesse depart from him. — 1611 noun2 •The cry of an animal, now chiefly that of animals related to the ass or donkey, or the camel. •Any discordant, grating, or harsh sound.At full volume, Doreen's whinnying laugh could shatter glass. Even at half volume, her high-pitched brays rattled teeth. — 2005 formsbrayed · braying · brays
