relay

[ noun ree-ley; verb ree-ley, ri-ley ]

/ noun ˈri leɪ; verb ˈri leɪ, rɪˈleɪ /

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See synonyms for: relay / re-laid / re-laying / re-lays on Thesaurus.com

noun

a series of persons relieving one another or taking turns; shift.

a fresh set of dogs or horses posted in readiness for use in a hunt, on a journey, etc.

Sports.

relay race.
a length or leg in a relay race.

Machinery. an automatic control device in which the settings of valves, switches, etc., are regulated by a powered element, as a motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism actuated by a smaller, sensitive element.

Electricity. a device, usually consisting of an electromagnet and an armature, by which a change of current or voltage in one circuit is used to make or break a connection in another circuit or to affect the operation of other devices in the same or another circuit.

(initial capital letter)U.S. Aerospace. one of an early series of experimental low-altitude, active communications satellites.

verb (used with object), re·layed, re·lay·ing.

to carry forward by or as if by relays: to relay a message.

to provide with or replace by fresh relays.

Electricity. to retransmit (a signal, message, etc.) by or as if by means of a telegraphic relay.

verb (used without object), re·layed, re·lay·ing.

Electricity. to retransmit a signal or message electronically.

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Origin of relay

1375–1425; (v.) late Middle English relaien to unleash fresh hounds in a hunt <Middle French relaier,Old French: to leave behind, release, equivalent to re-re- + laier to leave, dialectal variant of laissier<Latin laxāre (see relax); (noun) late Middle English relai set of fresh hounds <Middle French, derivative of relaier

Other definitions for relay (2 of 3)

relay²

[ ree-ley ]

/ riˈleɪ /

verb (used with object), re·laid, re·lay·ing.

re-lay.

Other definitions for relay (3 of 3)

re-lay

or re·lay

[ ree-ley ]

/ riˈleɪ /

verb (used with object), re-laid, re-lay·ing.

to lay again.

Origin of re-lay

First recorded in 1580–90; re- + lay¹

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-lay

re-lay , relay

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use relay in a sentence

The journey is relayed through 78 images clustered in white frames for an intimate feel.
Annie Leibovitz Talks About ‘Pilgrimage,’ Susan Sontag, Vogue & More|Justin Jones|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We asked one of the authors, Lisa Brosseau, if Will had correctly relayed her work.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: October 19|PunditFact.com|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This information is relayed to all the agents via the security room.
Behind the Scenes With a ‘Site Agent’: The Secret Service’s Hardest Job|Marc Ambinder|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sniper barely missed, and Steven relayed the story as equal parts humorous and traumatic.
Was U.S. Journalist Steven Sotloff a Marked Man?|Ben Taub|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Later that night, I relayed that story to my father and asked him: “Where is Palestine?”
Do Palestinians Really Exist?|Dean Obeidallah|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A start was made next day against an opposing wind, the sledges being relayed up a steep hillside.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson
But the sensitive microphone in his collar picked up the voice and relayed it to the man behind the teller's wicket.
The Penal Cluster|Ivar Jorgensen (AKA Randall Garrett)
It arrived at the lake and its camera relayed back exactly nothing that had not been photographed and recorded before.
Operation Terror|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
I relayed Vale's message describing the landing and the creatures that came out of the—object.
Operation Terror|William Fitzgerald Jenkins
A flurry of orders relayed to the control ship sent it soaring back into the distance, a mile or so high.
Cue for Quiet|Thomas L. Sherred

British Dictionary definitions for relay

relay

noun (ˈriːleɪ)

a person or team of people relieving others, as on a shift

a fresh team of horses, dogs, etc, posted at intervals along a route to relieve others

the act of relaying or process of being relayed

short for relay race
one of the sections of a relay race

an automatic device that controls the setting of a valve, switch, etc, by means of an electric motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism

electronics an electrical device in which a small change in current or voltage controls the switching on or off of circuits or other devices

radio

a combination of a receiver and transmitter designed to receive radio signals and retransmit them, in order to extend their range
(as modifier)a relay station

verb (rɪˈleɪ) (tr)

to carry or spread (something, such as news or information) by relays

to supply or replace with relays

to retransmit (a signal) by means of a relay

British to broadcast (a performance) by sending out signals through a transmitting stationthis concert is being relayed from the Albert Hall

Word Origin for relay

C15 relaien, from Old French relaier to leave behind, from re- + laier to leave, ultimately from Latin laxāre to loosen; see relax

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

Scientific definitions for relay

relay

[ rē′lā ]

An electrical switch that is operated by an electromagnet, such as a solenoid. When a small current passes through the electromagnet's coiled wire, it produces a magnetic field that attracts a movable iron bar, causing it to pivot and open or close the switch.

relay

Origin of relay

Other definitions for relay (2 of 3)

Other definitions for relay (3 of 3)

or re·lay

Origin of re-lay

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-lay

Words related to relay

How to use relay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for relay

Word Origin for relay

Scientific definitions for relay