Real Dictionary

bail
Bail is a sum of money that an arrested person or someone else puts forward as a guarantee that the arrested person will attend their trial in a law court. If the arrested person does not attend it, the money will be lost.
uncountable noun: Bail is permission for an arrested person to be released after bail has been paid.

bail in American English 1
money, a bond, etc. deposited with the court to obtain the temporary release of an arrested person on the assurance that the person will obey the court's orders, as by appearing for trial
to deliver (goods) in trust for a special purpose
noun: property or money given as surety that a person released from custody will return at an appointed time

bail in American English 2
a bucket or scoop for dipping up water and removing it from a boat
to remove water from (a boat) as with a bail
noun: the semicircular handle of a kettle or pail

bail in American English 3
a hoop-shaped support for holding up the cloth of a canopy, etc.
intransitive verb: to bail water
transitive verb: to dip (water) out of a boat, as with a bucket

bail in American English 4
a bar or pole to keep animals separate in a barn
noun: either of the two small bars or sticks laid across the tops of the stumps which form the wicket

bail in British English 1
noun: a sum of money by which a person is bound to take responsibility for the appearance in court of another person or himself or herself, forfeited if the person fails to appear

bail in British English 2
verb: to remove (water) from (a boat)

bail in British English 3
noun: either of two small wooden bars placed across the tops of the stumps to form the wicket

bail in British English 4
noun: the semicircular handle of a kettle, bucket, etc