What does "gay" mean?

[Sindrefyrn]

I had some arguing with some people recently about the word "gay". Therefore I'd appreciate some opinions from people with English as first language.

I mean that gay in most cases means homosexual. When someone is saying "You look gay today" or "Hey gay" they mean that gay means homosexual. I agree that gay can also mean merry, or happy.

The people I where arguing with claims that in most cases it means merry or happy.

Who's right?

 

[Kadaj]

• cheery: bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer; "a cheery hello"; "a gay sunny room"; "a sunny smile"
  
• 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"- Wordsworth; "the jolly crowd at the reunion"; "jolly old Saint Nick"; "a jovial old gentleman"; "have a merry Christmas"; "peals of merry laughter"; "a mirthful ...
  
• given to social pleasures often including dissipation; "led a gay Bohemian life"; "a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies"
  
• brave: brightly colored and showy; "girls decked out in brave new dresses"; "brave banners flying"; "`braw' is a Scottish word"; "a dress a bit too gay for her years"; "birds with gay plumage"
  
• offering fun and gaiety; "a festive (or festal) occasion"; "gay and exciting night life"; "a merry evening"
  
• homosexual or arousing homosexual desires

Source: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=define:+gay&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

 

[Sindrefyrn]

• cheery: bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer; "a cheery hello"; "a gay sunny room"; "a sunny smile"
  
• 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"- Wordsworth; "the jolly crowd at the reunion"; "jolly old Saint Nick"; "a jovial old gentleman"; "have a merry Christmas"; "peals of merry laughter"; "a mirthful ...
  
• given to social pleasures often including dissipation; "led a gay Bohemian life"; "a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies"
  
• brave: brightly colored and showy; "girls decked out in brave new dresses"; "brave banners flying"; "`braw' is a Scottish word"; "a dress a bit too gay for her years"; "birds with gay plumage"
  
• offering fun and gaiety; "a festive (or festal) occasion"; "gay and exciting night life"; "a merry evening"
  
• homosexual or arousing homosexual desires

Source: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=define:+gay&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=

Thank you sir.

 

[johnthewhiteman]

When people think gay they think Richard Simmons. Perhaps many have misunderstood the meaning of gay? Ofcourse it means happy, happy to be gay that is, so if you claim you're gay, obviously you're a homosexual.

 

[The Riddler_]

When used in that context, either;
- Being homosexual
- An insult

 

[xi momo xi]

It can also be used like so "A gay ol' time." As a good old time.

 

Gay literally means happy but people use it as an insult (substitute for stupid, idiotic, etc)

 

[Gecks]

2000-2009: Homosexuality

1930-1999: Happy

As the time progresses.

Is Obvious.

 

[The Legit Shop]

When your in class and the teacher gives you a test you say "aww thats gay"

does that mean the test is a homosexual?

 

[xi momo xi]

No, gay is also used to describe something bad. So if you call your test gay, its pretty much to describe distress over getting the test, "Aww thats bad"

 

[Crayola Oblongata]

Use the oxford english dictionary the most recent definition if you want the English meaning, and the most recent.

gay


• adjective (gayer, gayest) 1 (especially of a man) homosexual. 2 relating to homosexuals. 3 dated light-hearted and carefree. 4 dated brightly coloured; showy.

• noun a homosexual person, especially a man.

— DERIVATIVES gayness noun.

— USAGE Gay is now a standard term for ‘homosexual’, and is the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. As a result, it is now very difficult to use gay in its earlier meanings ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy’ without arousing a sense of double entendre. Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men, lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women.

— ORIGIN Old French gai.

from oxford dictionary UK

 

[DropKick Murphys]

This is how I would define it myself, without looking at the posts in this thread or any online dictionary:
1)Homosexual
2)Happy, merry, etc.
3)Silly, stupid, flamboyant

 

[Bring Me The Horizon]

Plain in simple - It's slang, no longer means "happy" even though everyone knows it DOES mean happy. It just means you like the same gender as yourself now a days though.

 

[Kristian4th]

Nowadays I'd say it defines homosexuality, whereas a few years ago, it meant jolly, happy etc.