bale

IPA/beɪl/
KK[bˈel]IPA/beɪl/

bale — noun

  • balesingular
  • balesplural

1. A compact bundle created by pressing and binding lightweight materials such as h

1.nounB1
Definition

A compact bundle created by pressing and binding lightweight materials such as hay, straw, cotton, or paper, so they can be stored or moved more easily.

Example

The farmer loaded each bale of hay onto the back of the truck.

bale of + material (hay)

A single bale of cotton can weigh over two hundred kilograms.

Common collocations
  • bale of hay
  • bale of cotton
  • bale of straw
  • bale of paper
  • bale of wool
Synonyms
  • bundle

    more general; a bundle can be any collection of items tied together, not necessarily pressed tight

  • pack

    smaller, usually carried on the back; not as large or heavy as a bale

Grammar Patterns

bale of [material]

Usage Note

Countable noun. The material is usually named after 'of': 'a bale of hay', 'bales of cotton'.

Common Mistakes

He carried a bale of water.
He carried a bale of hay.
'bale' is used for dry, lightweight materials (hay, cotton, paper), not for liquids.

bale — verb

Word family

  • baler
    nounB2
  • baling
    nounB2
  • unbaled
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A 'bale' specifically refers to a large, tightly pressed and bound bundle of lightweight agricultural or industrial materials such as hay, cotton, straw, or paper, typically machine-processed for storage or transport. 'Bundle' is the most general term, covering any collection of items tied together regardless of size or pressure. 'Pack' suggests a smaller, more portable unit, often designed to be carried on the back. 'Truss' is a more specialised term for hay or straw tied into a firm bundle, but it is less common in everyday language than 'bale'. For example, you would buy a 'bale of hay' for livestock, a 'bundle of sticks' for kindling, a 'pack of cards' at a shop, and a 'truss of hay' if you were reading historical farming manuals.

bale ↗bundle ↗pack ↗truss

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • bale of

Prepositions

Etymology

FrankishOld FrenchEnglish

The noun 'bale' (a large bundle) entered English through Old French 'bale' from Frankish *balla, meaning a rolled-up ball or package. The verb sense 'to tie into bales' derives from the same source.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2)