noun

• (geography) A body of water (especially the sea) contained by a concave shoreline.
  "This hotel has a great view across the bay."

noun

• (in the plural, now rare) The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.
  "both you here with many a cursed oth, / Sweare she is yours, and stirre vp bloudie frayes, / To win a willow bough, whilest other weares the bayes."
• (US, dialect) A tract covered with bay trees.
• (obsolete) A berry.

noun

• (nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.
• (rail transport) A bay platform.
  "There is a short bay at the west end of each platform, but neither is used for passenger trains."

noun

• (by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.
• (figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
  "Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay."