1. Homosexual or arousing homosexual desires
   "The gay movement of the 1950s paved the way for LGBTQ+ rights";
   - homophile [archaic]
    
2. Of or relating to homosexual men or women
   "They attended a gay wedding ceremony";
   - same-sex, homosexual
    
3. Bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
   "a gay sunny room";
   - cheery, sunny, sunshiny
    
4. Full of or showing high-spirited merriment
   "when hearts were young and gay"; "a poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company";
   - jocund [formal], jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful
    
5. Given to social pleasures often including dissipation
   "led a gay Bohemian life"; "a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies"
    
6. Brightly coloured and showy
   "a dress a bit too gay for her years"; "birds with gay plumage";
   - brave, braw [UK, dialect]
    
7. Offering fun and gaiety
   "gay and exciting night life";
   - festal [archaic], festive, merry

1. Someone who is sexually attracted to persons of the same sex
   "The organization fought for equal rights for gays"; "The term 'homophile' was used in early gay rights movements";
   - homosexual, homophile [archaic]
    
2. A homosexual man
   "before he came out he'd never been called a gay";
   - gay man, fagot [N. Amer, informal], faggot [informal], fag [informal], fairy [informal], pansy [informal], queen [informal], poof [informal], pouf [informal]

Derived forms: gayer, gayest, gays

See also: cheerful, colorful [US], colourful [Brit, Cdn], homosexual, indulgent, joyous

Type of: adult male, bozo [N. Amer, informal], cat [N. Amer, informal], chappie [Brit, informal], geezer [Brit, informal], guy [informal], hombre [N. Amer, informal], individual, man, mortal, person, sod [informal], somebody, someone, soul

Encyclopedia: Gay, Paul