bale

Everyday

1. A bale is a large tightly packed bundle of hay, straw, cotton or wool, tied up with string or wire. tree →
2. (verb) To bale hay means to press it into bales. tree →
3. (UK) To bale out means to jump out of a plane with a parachute, or to scoop water out of a boat; in the US usually spelt «bail out». tree →
4. Bales can also be large bundles of goods, such as silk or cloth, packed tightly for shipping. tree →

In the lessons

On farms in stories and geography lessons you see bales of hay; maths problems may count bales or their weight. Phrases: «a bale of hay», «round bales», «bale out».

Examples

• The farmer stacked the hay bales in the barn. tree →
• Each bale weighs 25 kilograms; how much do 8 bales weigh? tree →
• We sat on a bale of straw at the fair. tree →
• The machine bales the hay in the field. tree →
• The pilot had to bale out over the sea. tree →
• Bale the water out of the boat with this bucket! tree →
• "So, captain," said I, "the merchant who owned those bales was called Sindbad?" tree →

Note

Countable: a bale, bales. Homophone: bail (money paid so a prisoner can leave before trial; also the small piece on cricket stumps). Maths: «bales» are units to count, often times a weight each.