Definition

1. Noun:

   • Dried grass used as animal fodder: "Hay" refers to grass or other plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as feed for livestock, such as cattle or horses.

2. Verb:

   • To cut and dry grass for fodder: The verb "to hay" means the process of converting standing grass or plant material into hay by mowing and curing it.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The farmer stored the hay in the barn for the winter.
  • Horses need to eat high-quality hay.

• Verb:

  • They will hay the field next week if the weather is good.
  • The process of haying is an important summer task.

Advanced Usage

• "Make hay": This phrase literally means to cut and dry grass to make hay.
  • The farmers are making hay while the sun shines.

Variants and Related Words

• Hayfield (n): A field where grass is grown to be made into hay.

  • The cows wandered into the hayfield.

• Hayloft (n): The upper part of a barn used for storing hay.

  • The children played in the hayloft.

• Haymaker (n): A person who makes hay; also, a powerful punch in boxing (slang).

  • He worked as a haymaker during the summer.
  • The boxer was knocked out by a haymaker.

Synonyms

• Fodder: Dried food for livestock.
• Forage: Food for animals, especially taken by browsing or grazing.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs/Idioms)

• "Make hay while the sun shines": To take advantage of favorable conditions or opportunities while they last.

  • The market is good now, so we should make hay while the sun shines.

• "Hit the hay" (idiom, informal): To go to bed.

  • I'm exhausted; I'm going to hit the hay.

• "Look for a needle in a haystack" (idiom): To search for something that is nearly impossible to find.

  • Finding my lost earring in this park is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Noun

1. grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

Verb

1. convert (plant material) into hay