Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913 Gay /(gā)/ · IPA /ɡeɪ/ a. n. 01 a. Excited with merriment; manifesting sportiveness or delight; inspiring delight; livery; merry. 1. Excited with merriment; manifesting sportiveness or delight; inspiring delight; livery; merry. “Belinda smiled, and all the world was gay.” — Pope. “Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed.” — Gray. 2. Brilliant in colors; splendid; fine; richly dressed. “Why is my neighbor's wife so gay?” — Chaucer. “A bevy of fair women, richly gay In gems and wanton dress!” — Milton. 3. Loose; dissipated; lewd.[Colloq.] Syn. Merry; gleeful; blithe; airy; lively; sprightly, sportive; light-hearted; frolicsome; jolly; jovial; joyous; joyful; glad; showy; splendid; vivacious. 02 n. An ornament 1. An ornament[Obs.]