Definition of “bail” - English Dictionary

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“bail” in English

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bailnoun

uk ​ /beɪl/ us ​ /beɪl/

bailverb

uk ​ /beɪl/ us ​ /beɪl/

bail verb (REMOVE WATER)

› [ I ] UK also bale to remove water from a boat using a container:

The boat's sinking! Start bailing quickly!

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

bail verb (STOP)

› [ I ] informal to stop doing something or leave a place before something is finished:

It was so boring I bailed early.

Phrasal verb(s)

bail out
bail sb out
bail sb/sth out
bail sth out

(Definition of “bail” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“bail” in American English

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bailnoun [ U ]

us ​ /beɪl/

bail noun [ U ] (MONEY)

› a sum of money given to a law court by a person accused of a crime so that the person can be released until the trial, at which time the money will be returned:

The judge set bail at $100,000.

bailverb [ I/T ]

us ​ /beɪl/

bail verb [ I/T ] (REMOVE WATER)

› to remove water from a boat by using a container:

[ T ] I’d float around for hours fishing and bailing out the water leaking in.

Phrasal verb(s)

bail out
bail out something/someone

(Definition of “bail” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

“bail” in Business English

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bailnoun [ U ]

uk ​ /beɪl/ us ​

› LAW money that someone agrees to pay to a court so that a person who has been accused of a crime can remain free until their trial. If the person does not appear at the trial, the court keeps the money:

The Court of Appeals let him remain free on bail during the appeal of his conviction.
I agreed to stand bail for him (= pay the bail).
Bail was set at £20,000.

bailverb [ T, usually passive ]

uk ​ /beɪl/ us ​

› LAW if someone accused of a crime is bailed, they are released until their trial, after money has been paid to the court:

She was bailed after being charged with fraud.

Phrasal verb(s)

bail out
bail sb out
bail sb/sth out

(Definition of “bail” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of “bail”
 
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