bale Hear it!

bale¹ Definition

bale (bāl)

noun

a large bundle, esp. a standardized quantity of goods, as ginned cotton, hay, straw, etc., compressed, bound, and sometimes wrapped

Etymology: ME < OFr < OHG balla, ball

transitive verb baled, bal·ing

to make into a bale or bales

bale¹ Related Forms
baler noun
bale² Definition

bale (bāl)

noun

  1. evil; disaster; harm
  2. sorrow; woe

Etymology: ME < OE bealu, akin to OHG bal, evil, ON bǫl, harm < IE base *bheleu-, to beat > blow

bale³ Definition

bale (bāl)

noun

Archaic balefire

bale Synonyms

bale

n.

bundle, bunch, parcel, package; see package 1. See syn. study at package.

bale Usage Examples

Object

  • twine: The baler packs the hay tight in bales and the bales are tied with two loops of baling twine.
  • hay: On the day of its arrival there he had told Airey to make an urgent request for baled hay.
  • straw: Several fields have now been harvested and the straw baled into the large round bales that are now the norm.
  • wire: Yes, Bales can be bound with baling wire, strings of polypropylene, or sisal.

Converse of object

  • stack: The building is essentially an open shed, with piles of grass and stacked hay bales among equipment.
  • wrap: Bought in this state, the wool arrived in 150 Kg hessian wrapped bales ( not very moveable ).

Adjective modifier

  • straw: The first terrier through the straw bales was the winning terrier.
  • rectangular: Producers, suppliers of quality soft haylage in rectangular bales weighing 240kg.

Modifies a noun

  • silage: Quality is an important factor when making big bale silage for both the cattle and the sheep.
  • builder: This practical guide has been written by the most experienced straw bale builder in the UK.
  • wall: Another feature in the garden is the straw bale wall.

Noun used with modifier

  • hay: Some of the straw from the hay bale burnt out my back break in the 450 race.
  • silage: Allowing air into the silage bale will result in part or all of that bale going rotten.
  • straw: On very steep slopes, stake straw bales in parallel lines from bottom to top, spaced a few meters apart.
  • tire: The tire bale is a building block made from compressed tires.

Preposition: of

  • hay: You know how many bales of hay your car will hold.
  • straw: We have bales of straw we occasionally use for bedding.
  • cotton: In 2003, they grew 30 million hectares of cotton that produced 84 million bales of cotton.
  • wool: Showing a busy scene on a Durban wharf, with bales of wool being loaded by crane on to a moored steamer.
  • cloth: From every bale of cloth for sale brought in by cart, 4d.
bale Quotes

What worlds delight, or joy of living speech Can heart, so plunged in sea of sorrows deep, And heape'  d with so huge misfortunes, reach? The careful cold beginneth for to creep, And in my heart his iron arrow steep, Soon as I think upon my bitter bale.

—Spenser, Edmund

Browse dictionary entries near bale

  1. baldy
  2. Baldwin Park
  3. Baldwin
  4. baldric
  5. baldpate
  6. baldness
  7. balding
  8. baldhead
  9. baldfaced
  10. balderdash
  1. Baleares
  2. Balearic Islands
  3. baleen
  4. baleen whale
  5. balefire
  6. baleful
  7. Balfour
  8. Balfour Declaration
  9. Bali
  10. Balikesir