volley

American  

[vol-ee] / ˈvɒl i /

noun

plural

volleys

1. the simultaneous discharge of a number of missiles or firearms.

2. the missiles so discharged.

3. a burst or outpouring of many things at once or in quick succession.

   a volley of protests.

4. Tennis.

   1. the flight of the ball before it hits the ground.

   2. the return of the ball before it hits the ground.

5. Soccer. a kick of the ball before it bounces on the ground.

6. Cricket. a ball so bowled that it hits the wicket before it touches the ground.

7. Mining. the explosion of several charges at one time.

---

verb (used with object)

volleyed, volleying

1. to discharge in or as in a volley.

2. Tennis. to return (the ball) before it hits the ground.

3. Soccer. to kick (the ball) before it bounces on the ground.

4. Cricket. to bowl (a ball) in such a manner that it is pitched near the top of the wicket.

verb (used without object)

volleyed, volleying

1. to fly or be discharged together, as missiles.

2. to move or proceed with great rapidity, as in a volley.

3. to fire a volley; sound together, as firearms.

4. Tennis, Soccer. to return the ball before it touches the ground.

volley British  

/ ˈvɒlɪ /

noun

1. the simultaneous discharge of several weapons, esp firearms

2. the projectiles or missiles so discharged

3. a burst of oaths, protests, etc, occurring simultaneously or in rapid succession

4. sport a stroke, shot, or kick at a moving ball before it hits the ground Compare half volley

5. cricket the flight of such a ball or the ball itself

6. the simultaneous explosion of several blastings of rock

---

verb

1. to discharge (weapons, etc) in or as if in a volley or (of weapons, etc) to be discharged

2. (tr) to utter vehemently or sound loudly and continuously

3. (tr) sport to strike or kick (a moving ball) before it hits the ground

4. (intr) to issue or move rapidly or indiscriminately

Other Word Forms

• volleyer noun

Etymology

Origin of volley

1565–75; < Middle French volee flight, noun use of feminine past participle of voler to fly < Latin volāre

Example Sentences

Spanish striker Garcia, filling in for the injured Kylian Mbappe, opened the scoring after 20 minutes and then volleyed home a superb second early in the second half to give Madrid a commanding lead.

From Barron's

A double fault at deuce when 5-3 down gave King a third match point - and Riggs sent a volley into the net to confirm her victory.

From BBC

With Chelsea in disarray, Gordon and Woltemade carved open them yet again on the stroke of half-time, but on this occasion the German somehow volleyed wide when it seemed easier to score.

From Barron's

Handed just his second league start of the season, defender Niklas Suele created Dortmund's opener, drifting in a cross for Brandt to volley home 10 minutes in.

From Barron's

Developed over the past decade, it can throw munitions of varying ranges, including volleys of low-cost rockets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• burst
• crossfire
• firing
• gunfire
• salvo