Ocean vs. Bay — What's the Difference?

The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water which covers approximately 71% of the surface of the Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. Another definition is "any of the large bodies of water into which the great ocean is divided".

A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or even another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight.

The entire body of salt water that covers more than 70 percent of the earth's surface.

A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea

Abbr. Oc. or O. Any of the principal divisions of the ocean, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans.

An area of land, such as an arm of prairie partially enclosed by woodland, that resembles in shape or formation a partially enclosed body of water.

A great expanse or amount

(Architecture) A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters

(countable) One of the large bodies of water separating the continents.

A bay window.

(uncountable) Water belonging to an ocean.

An opening or recess in a wall.

(figuratively) An immense expanse; any vast space or quantity without apparent limits.

A section or compartment, as in a service station, barn, or aircraft, that is set off for a specific purpose

A blue colour, like that of the ocean (also called ocean blue).

A sickbay.

The whole body of salt water which covers more than three fifths of the surface of the globe; - called also the sea, or great sea.

(Computers) A drive bay.

One of the large bodies of water into which the great ocean is regarded as divided, as the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic oceans.

A reddish brown.

An immense expanse; any vast space or quantity without apparent limits; as, the boundless ocean of eternity; an ocean of affairs.

A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail.

Of or pertaining to the main or great sea; as, the ocean waves; an ocean stream.

A deep, prolonged bark, such as the sound made by hounds.

A large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

The position of one cornered by pursuers and forced to turn and fight at close quarters

Anything apparently limitless in quantity or volume

The position of having been checked or held at a distance

See laurel.

Any of certain other trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage, such as the California laurel.

A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves and branches of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory.

Often bays Honor; renown.

Reddish-brown

To utter a deep, prolonged bark.

To pursue or challenge with barking

To express by barking or howling

To bring to bay

(obsolete) A berry.

, a tree or shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries.

Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.

The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.

A tract covered with bay trees.

A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico.

(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more-or-less three-quarters surrounded by land.

A bank or dam to keep back water.

An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.

An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.

The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.

(nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.

(rail transport) A bay platform.

A bay window.

The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.

(by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.

(figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.

A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.

A horse of this color.

(intransitive) To howl.

(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.

(transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.

Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).

Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; - applied to the color of horses.

An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character.

A small body of water set off from the main body; as a compartment containing water for a wheel; the portion of a canal just outside of the gates of a lock, etc.

A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.

A principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a building, or of the whole building, as marked off by the buttresses, vaulting, mullions of a window, etc.; one of the main divisions of any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.

A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the stalks.

A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay.

A berry, particularly of the laurel.

The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Hence, in the plural, an honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel.

A tract covered with bay trees.

Deep-toned, prolonged barking.

A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.

A bank or dam to keep back water.

To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.

To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear.

To bathe.

To dam, as water; - with up or back.

An indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

The sound of a hound on the scent

Small Mediterranean evergreen tree with small blackish berries and glossy aromatic leaves used for flavoring in cooking; also used by ancient Greeks to crown victors

A compartment on a ship between decks; often used as a hospital;

A compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose;

A small recess opening off a larger room

A horse of a moderate reddish-brown color

Utter in deep prolonged tones

Bark with prolonged noises, of dogs

(used of animals especially a horse) of a moderate reddish-brown color