The main difference between Gulf and Bay is that the Gulf is a larger and deeper body of water than the bay, and it is narrow-mouthed. Whereas Bay is also a body of water that has an opening and, not as enclosed as a gulf.
Gulf
Abbr. G. A large area of a sea or ocean partially enclosed by land, especially a long landlocked portion of sea opening through a strait.
Bay
A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea
The Bay of Biscay.
Gulf
A deep, wide chasm; an abyss.
Bay
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.
Gulf
A wide gap, as in understanding
"the gulf between the Victorian sensibility and our own" (Babette Deutsch).
Bay
(Architecture) A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters
An arcade divided into ten bays.
Gulf
Something, such as a whirlpool, that draws down or engulfs.
Bay
An opening or recess in a wall.
Gulf
A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
Bay
A section or compartment, as in a service station, barn, or aircraft, that is set off for a specific purpose
A cargo bay.
An engine bay.
Gulf
(obsolete) That which swallows; the gullet.
Gulf
That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
Bay
(Computers) A drive bay.
Gulf
(geography) A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea
The Gulf of Mexico
The Persian Gulf
Gulf
(mining) A large deposit of ore in a lode.
Bay
A reddish-brown animal, especially a horse having a black mane and tail.
Gulf
(figurative) A wide interval or gap; a separating space.
Bay
A deep, prolonged bark, such as the sound made by hounds.
Gulf
(figurative) A difference, especially a large difference, between groups.
Bay
The position of one cornered by pursuers and forced to turn and fight at close quarters
The hunters brought their quarry to bay.
Gulf
(Oxbridge slang) The bottom part of a list of those awarded a degree, for those who have only just passed.
Bay
The position of having been checked or held at a distance
"He has seen the nuclear threat held at bay for 40 years" (Earl W. Foell).
Gulf
To award a degree to somebody who has only just passed sufficiently.
Gulf
A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin,
He then surveyedHell and the gulf between.
Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.
Bay
Any of certain other trees or shrubs with aromatic foliage, such as the California laurel.
Gulf
That which swallows; the gullet.
Bay
A crown or wreath made especially of the leaves and branches of the laurel and given as a sign of honor or victory.
Gulf
That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
A gulf of ruin, swallowing gold.
Bay
Often bays Honor; renown.
Gulf
A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially land-locked sea; as, the Gulf of Mexico.
Bay
Reddish-brown
A bay colt.
Gulf
A large deposit of ore in a lode.
Bay
To utter a deep, prolonged bark.
Gulf
An arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
Bay
To pursue or challenge with barking
"I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon" (Shakespeare).
Gulf
An unbridgeable disparity (as from a failure of understanding);
He felt a gulf between himself and his former friends
There is a vast disconnect between public opinion and federal policy
Bay
To express by barking or howling
A mob baying its fury.
Bay
To bring to bay
"too big for the dogs which tried to bay it" (William Faulkner).
Bay
, a tree or shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries.
Bay
Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.
Bay
The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.
Bay
A tract covered with bay trees.
Bay
A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico.
Bay
(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more-or-less three-quarters surrounded by land.
Bay
A bank or dam to keep back water.
Bay
An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.
Bay
An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.
Bay
The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.
Bay
(nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.
Bay
(rail transport) A bay platform.
Bay
The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.
Bay
(by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.
Bay
(figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
Bay
A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.
Bay
A horse of this color.
Bay
(intransitive) To howl.
Bay
(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.
To bay the bear
Bay
(transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.
Bay
Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).
Bay
Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; - applied to the color of horses.
Bay
An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the same general character.
Bay
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.
Bay
A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.
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.
Bay
A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the stalks.
Bay
A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay.
Bay
A berry, particularly of the laurel.
Bay
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.
The patriot's honors and the poet's bays.
Bay
A tract covered with bay trees.
Bay
Deep-toned, prolonged barking.
Bay
A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay.
The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts.
Bay
A bank or dam to keep back water.
Bay
To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.
The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed.
Bay
To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay; as, to bay the bear.
Bay
To dam, as water; - with up or back.
Bay
An indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
Bay
The sound of a hound on the scent
Bay
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
Bay
A compartment on a ship between decks; often used as a hospital;
They put him in the sick bay
Bay
A compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose;
He opened the bomb bay
Bay
A small recess opening off a larger room
Bay
A horse of a moderate reddish-brown color
Bay
Utter in deep prolonged tones
Bay
Bark with prolonged noises, of dogs
Bay
(used of animals especially a horse) of a moderate reddish-brown color
The gulf is a water body that penetrates the land. The land largely surrounds the gulf, whereas land partially surrounds the bay.The gulf is a large water body which is almost covered by land, besides a narrow opening from one side while the bay is a large water body which forms an indentation of the coastline, such as the sea covered by the seashore from all sides. Water abrades deeply into the borderland that makes the shape of the gulf long and narrower. However, the bay has a circular or semicircular shape due to inward land curve. The formation of a gulf is by the movement of the tectonic plates that form deep enclosed water, and the formation of the bay is by abrasion of the coastline, flooding or movement of Earth’s plates.. A gulf has a larger size while a bay has smaller. The gulf is narrow-mouthed as compared to the bay, which has a broader mouth. Greater landmass surrounds the gulf, whereas lesser landmass surrounds the bay. The largest gulf is “Gulf of Mexico” in the world while the largest bay in the world is “Bay of Bengal.” The gulf generally attaches to the ocean while the bay connects to a river or a lake or ocean.
A Gulf is a large water body of the sea that penetrates the land. It has a narrow opening with the deep passage of the sea mostly bordered by land and has a narrow opening. A gulf is generally larger and sometimes, also called a large bay. The formation of the gulf is by continental drift and the movement in the earth’s tectonic plates that may split or break apart to form a gulf.. The flow of gulf water deeply abrades the conjoining land. Its shape makes it ideal for ports or trading center in which loading and unloading of cargo and passengers happen using boats. It connects to the ocean. The gulfs which are popular in the world include the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Gulf of California, etc. The largest gulf, Gulf of Mexico has a surface area of 1.6 million km² (1,554,000 km²).
The bay is a recessed water body, partially bordered by land. It is a wide passage of the water body where the land curves inwards. It connects directly to the lake, river, sea, or ocean. A bay is generally smaller with a broader mouth. The formation of the bay is a result of continental drift, glacial and river erosion and movement of tectonic plates. The overflow of the ocean across the coastline also forms a bay. The surrounding land of the bay blocks waves and reduce the force of winds. Therefore, it provides a safe place for fishing. Bays also make good trading centers and ports. The list of popular bays worldwide includes Hudson Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Bay of Bengal, and San Francisco Bay. The Bay of Bengal in India is the largest bay in the world and has a surface area of 2.172 million km². Bays that are opening to the oceans have of marine life and bays that are open to the rivers or lakes consist freshwater and provide habitat to the reptiles. Bays generally have a circular or semicircular shape, and the passage formed in the bay is wide. A bay formed by a glacier is known as a fjord, and a bay formed by rivers is Rias which is characterized by moderate slopes.