ray
1[ rey ]
/ reɪ /
noun
verb (used without object)
to emit rays.
to issue in rays.
verb (used with object)
QUIZZES
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Idioms for ray
get / grab some rays, Slang. to relax in the sun, especially to sunbathe.
Origin of ray
1synonym study for ray
1. See gleam.
OTHER WORDS FROM ray
raylike, adjectiveDefinition for ray (2 of 3)
ray2
[ rey ]
/ reɪ /
noun
any of numerous elasmobranch fishes, adapted for life on the sea bottom, having a flattened body and greatly enlarged pectoral fins with the gills on the undersides.
Origin of ray
21275–1325; Middle English raye (<Old French rai) <Latin raia
Definition for ray (3 of 3)
Ray
[ rey for 1, 2, 4-6; rahy for 3 ]
/ reɪ for 1, 2, 4-6; raɪ for 3 /
noun
John, 1627?–1705, English naturalist.
Man [man], /mæn/, 1890–1976, U.S. painter and photographer.
Sat·ya·jit [suht-yuh-jit], /ˈsʌt yə dʒɪt/, 1921–92, Indian film director.
Cape, a promontory at the SW extremity of Newfoundland, Canada, on the Cabot Strait, at the entrance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
a male given name, form of Raymond.
Also Raye . a female given name, form of Rachel.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for ray
British Dictionary definitions for ray (1 of 5)
ray1
/ (reɪ) /
noun
verb
Word Origin for ray
C14: from Old French rai, from Latin radius spoke, radius
British Dictionary definitions for ray (2 of 5)
ray2
/ (reɪ) /
noun
any of various marine selachian fishes typically having a flattened body, greatly enlarged winglike pectoral fins, gills on the undersurface of the fins, and a long whiplike tail. They constitute the orders Torpediniformes (electric rays) and Rajiformes
Word Origin for ray
C14: from Old French raie, from Latin raia
British Dictionary definitions for ray (3 of 5)
ray3
/ (reɪ) /
noun
music (in tonic sol-fa) the second degree of any major scale; supertonic
Word Origin for ray
C14: see gamut
British Dictionary definitions for ray (4 of 5)
Ray1
/ (reɪ) /
noun
Cape Ray a promontory in SW Newfoundland, Canada
British Dictionary definitions for ray (5 of 5)
Ray2
/ (reɪ) /
noun
John . 1627–1705, English naturalist. He originated natural botanical classification and the division of flowering plants into monocotyledons and dicotyledons
Man, real name Emmanuel Rudnitsky . 1890–1976, US surrealist photographer
Satyajit (ˈsætjədʒɪt). 1921–92, Indian film director, noted for his Apu trilogy (1955–59)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for ray (1 of 2)
ray
[ rā ]
n.
A narrow beam of light or other electromagnetic radiation.
A narrow beam of particles, as a cathode.
A structure or part having the form of a straight line extending from a point.
Medical definitions for ray (2 of 2)
Ray
John 1627-1705
English naturalist who was the first to use anatomy to distinguish between specific plants and animals. He established the species as the basic classification of living things.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for ray
ray
[ rā ]
A thin line or narrow beam of light or other radiation.
A geometric figure consisting of the part of a line that is on one side of a point on the line.
See ray flower.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.