gay

gay
I UK [ɡeɪ] / US adjective
Word forms "gay":
adjective gay comparative gayer superlative gayest
**
Words that avoid giving offence: gay:
Use gay to describe men who are sexually attracted to other men. Gay can also be used about women who are sexually attracted to other women, but the more usual word is lesbian. Some people feel gay can be offensive when it is used as a noun and prefer to say gay people, gay men or gay men and women, depending on the context.
1) sexually attracted to people of the same sex. This word is mainly used about men.

Gay men and lesbians were represented in almost equal numbers.

the gay community

a gay bar/club/disco

2) old-fashioned brightly-coloured or attractive

The shops were gay with Christmas decorations.

3) old-fashioned happy and excited

She gave a gay laugh.


Derived word:
gayness
noun uncountable
II UK [ɡeɪ] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "gay":
singular gay plural gays
someone who is sexually attracted to people of the same sex. This word is mainly used about men.

English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • gay — gay …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • gay — late 14c., full of joy, merry; light hearted, carefree; also wanton, lewd, lascivious (late 12c. as a surname, Philippus de Gay), from O.Fr. gai joyful, happy; pleasant, agreeably charming; forward, pert (12c.; Cf. O.Sp. gayo, Port. gaio, It.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Gay — ist ein aus dem Englischen übernommenes Fremdwort für homosexuell. Es wird als Adjektiv im allgemeinen Sprachgebrauch des deutschsprachigen Raumes häufig synonym mit schwul verwendet, weil es mehrheitlich als weniger direkt und dennoch nicht so… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • gay — [ gɛ ] adj. inv. • 1952 dans un contexte américain; mot angl. « gai » par euphém. ♦ Relatif à l homosexualité masculine, aux homosexuels. Des bars gay. N. m. Homosexuel. Les gays. (Parfois francisé en gai.) ⊗ HOM. Gai, guai, guet. ● gay adjectif… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • gay — 1. • There is no historical case for homosexual ownership of ‘gay’. So can we have our word back, please.’ Paul Johnson, 1995. This typifies the reaction of many people to this major change, occurring from the mid 20c but with occasional earlier… …   Modern English usage

  • gay — GAY, Gaye. adj. Joyeux. Un homme gay. un visage gay. mine gaye. humeur gaye. esprit gay. estre gay. rendre gay. se tenir gay. devenir gay. avoir l esprit gay, l oeil gay. avoir un air gay. il est gay & gaillard. Il sign. aussi, Ce qui resjoüit.… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Gay.ru — URL: gay.ru …   Википедия

  • GAY (J.) — GAY JOHN (1685 1732) Orphelin dès l’âge de dix ans, John Gay fut placé par son oncle à l’école de Barnstaple où il eut un bon maître latiniste, qui lui donna l’amour des classiques. À sa sortie de l’école, il fut pris en apprentissage chez un… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Gay — (g[=a]), a. [Compar. {Gayer}; superl. {Gayest}.] [F. gai, perhaps fr. OHG. g?hi swift, rapid, G. g[ a]h, j[ a]h, steep, hasty; or cf. OHG. w?hi beatiful, good. Cf. {Jay}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Excited with merriment; manifesting sportiveness or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Gay — Gay: Gay мужчина с гомосексуальной идентичностью, другие названия: гомосексуал, голубой, человек с нетрадиционной сексуальной ориентацией. Gay фамилия «Гей» на иностранных языках. Gay   общепринятое сокращение (обозначение) имени… …   Википедия

  • Gay — /gay/, n. 1. John, 1685 1732, English poet and dramatist. 2. a female or male given name. * * * (as used in expressions) gay rights movement Gay John Gay Lussac Joseph Louis Marvin Pentz Gay * * * …   Universalium

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