Gulf vs. Bay
Main DifferenceThe 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.
Difference Between Gulf and Bay
Gulf vs. Bay
The gulf is largely surrounded by land and penetrates the land whereas bay is partially surrounded by land.
Gulf vs. Bay
The size of gulf is larger. Conversely, the bay is smaller.
Gulf vs. Bay
The shape of the gulf is longer and narrower. On the flip side, the shape of the bay is circular or semicircular.
Gulf vs. Bay
The gulf is narrow-mouthed while the bay is broad-mouthed.
Gulf vs. Bay
The gulf connects to the ocean while bay directly connects to a lake, or a river, or the ocean.
Gulf vs. Bay
The formation of gulf takes place by the movement of tectonic plates and continental drift. On the other hand, the formation of bay results as continental drift, glacial or river erosion or flooding.
Gulf vs. Bay
A gulf is more enclosed to the landmass, whereas a bay is less enclose to the landmass.
Gulfnoun
A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
Baynoun
(obsolete) A berry.
Gulfnoun
(obsolete) That which swallows; the gullet.
Baynoun
Laurus nobilis, a tree or shrub of the family Lauraceae, having dark green leaves and berries.
Gulfnoun
That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
Baynoun
Bay leaf, the leaf of this or certain other species of tree or shrub, used as a herb.
Gulfnoun
(geography) A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea
the Gulf of Mexicothe Persian GulfBaynoun
The leaves of this shrub, woven into a garland used to reward a champion or victor; hence, fame, victory.
Gulfnoun
(mining) A large deposit of ore in a lode.
Baynoun
A tract covered with bay trees.
Gulfnoun
A difference, especially a large difference, between groups
Baynoun
A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeche in Mexico.
Gulfnoun
(Oxbridge slang) The bottom part of a list of those awarded a degree, for those who have only just passed.
Baynoun
(geography) A body of water (especially the sea) more or less three-quarters surrounded by land.
Gulfverb
To award a degree to somebody who has only just passed sufficiently.
Baynoun
A bank or dam to keep back water.
Gulfnoun
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
Baynoun
An opening in a wall, especially between two columns.
Gulfnoun
an unbridgeable disparity (as from a failure of understanding);
he felt a gulf between himself and his former friendsthere is a vast disconnect between public opinion and federal policyBaynoun
An internal recess; a compartment or area surrounded on three sides.
Gulfnoun
a deep wide chasm
Baynoun
The distance between two supports in a vault or building with a pitched roof.
Baynoun
(nautical) Each of the spaces, port and starboard, between decks, forward of the bitts, in sailing warships.
Baynoun
(rail transport) A bay platform.
Baynoun
A bay window.
Baynoun
The excited howling of dogs when hunting or being attacked.
Baynoun
(by extension) The climactic confrontation between hunting-dogs and their prey.
Baynoun
(figuratively) A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty, when escape has become impossible.
Baynoun
A brown colour/color of the coat of some horses.
Baynoun
A horse of this color.
Bayverb
(intransitive) To howl.
Bayverb
(transitive) To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to bay.
to bay the bearBayverb
(transitive) To pursue noisily, like a pack of hounds.
Bayadjective
Of a reddish-brown colour (especially of horses).
Baynoun
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
Baynoun
the sound of a hound on the scent
Baynoun
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
Baynoun
a compartment on a ship between decks; often used as a hospital;
they put him in the sick bayBaynoun
a compartment in an aircraft used for some specific purpose;
he opened the bomb bayBaynoun
a small recess opening off a larger room
Baynoun
a horse of a moderate reddish-brown color
Bayverb
utter in deep prolonged tones
Bayverb
bark with prolonged noises, of dogs
Bayadjective
(used of animals especially a horse) of a moderate reddish-brown color
Comparison Chart
| Gulf | Bay |
| The gulf is the body of water that is partially bordered by land. | Bay is the large body of water that is largely bordered by land. |
| Size | |
| Larger | Smaller |
| Mouth | |
| Narrow mouth | Broader mouth |
| Formation | |
| Formed by movement of tectonic plates and, continental drift. | Formed by continental drift, glacial or river erosion and, flooding. |
| Location | |
| It connects to the ocean. | It connects to the ocean, or a river, or lake. |
| Shape | |
| Long and narrow | Circular or semicircular |
Gulf vs. Bay
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.
What is Gulf?
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).
What is Bay?
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.
ConclusionBoth gulf and bay are indentations, but they differ in some ways; gulf is a larger, narrow-mouthed body of water that penetrates the land whereas bay is a broad-mouthed, circular water body that is partially surrounded by land.
