ALL meanings of gay
gay
G g - noun gay The meaning “homosexual” for the word gay has become so prevalent that people hesitate to use the term in its original senses of “merry, lively” and “bright or showy.” But the word's association with sexuality is not new. The word gay has had various senses dealing with sexual conduct since the 17th century. A gay woman was a prostitute, a gay man a womanizer, a gay house a brothel. This sexual world included homosexuals too, and gay as an adjective meaning “homosexual” goes back at least to the late 1930s. After World War II, as social attitudes toward sexuality began to change, gay was applied openly by homosexuals to themselves, first as an adjective and later as a noun. It is no longer considered slang. Today, the noun often designates only a male homosexual and is usually used as a collective plural: gays and lesbians . Usage as a singular noun is uncommon and is sometimes perceived as insulting: He came out as a gay. In contrast, gay in the sense “awkward, stupid, or bad” is often used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting to gay people. Though some have argued that this sense is independent of the “homosexual” sense, and therefore not homophobic, the argument is weakened by the fact that “homosexual” has long been the dominant meaning of gay, and thus permeates its other usages. See also homosexual. 1
- noun gay (of a person, esp. a man) Homosexual. 1
- adjective gay of, relating to, or exhibiting sexual desire or behavior directed toward a person or persons of one's own sex; homosexual: a gay couple. Antonyms: straight. 1
- adjective gay of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues: a gay organization. 1
- adjective gay Slang: Often Disparaging and Offensive. awkward, stupid, or bad; lame: This game is boring and really, really gay. 1
- adjective gay Slang. inappropriately forward or bold; overly familiar; reckless: George got gay at the Christmas party and suddenly swept his boss's wife onto the dance floor. 1
- adjective gay Older Use. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music. 1
- adjective gay Older Use. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments. 1
- adjective gay Older Use. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season; the Gay Nineties. 1
- adjective gay Older Use. sexually unrestrained; having loose morals: In the 1930s movie, the baron is referred to as “a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.”. 1
- adjective gay Obsolete. (used especially of women and especially in poetry) beautiful, lofty, noble, or excellent: The learned man hath got the lady gay. excellent; top-notch: a gay and lofty mind. 1
- noun gay John, 1685–1732, English poet and dramatist. 1
- noun gay a female or male given name. 1
- adverb gay in a gay manner. 1
- adjective gay homosexual 1
- noun gay homosexual person 1
- adjective gay bright 1
- adjective gay joyous 1
- adjective gay A gay person is homosexual. 0
- adjective gay Gays are homosexual people, especially homosexual men. 0
- adjective gay A gay person is fun to be with because they are lively and cheerful. 0
- adjective gay A gay object is brightly coloured and pretty to look at. 0
- adjective gay of or for homosexuals 0
- adjective gay carefree and merry 0
- adjective gay brightly coloured; brilliant 0
- adjective gay given to pleasure, esp in social entertainment 0
- noun gay a homosexual 0
- noun gay John. 1685–1732, English poet and dramatist; author of The Beggar's Opera (1728) 0
- noun gay John1685-1732; Eng. poet & playwright 0
- adjective gay joyous and lively; merry; happy; lighthearted 0
- adjective gay bright; brilliant 0
- adjective gay given to social life and pleasures 0
- adjective gay wanton; licentious 0
- adjective gay of, for, or relating to homosexuals, often, specif., male homosexuals 0
- noun gay a homosexual; esp., a homosexual man 0