volley

[ vol-ee ]
See synonyms for: volleyvolleyedvolleying on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural vol·leys.
  1. the simultaneous discharge of a number of missiles or firearms.

  2. the missiles so discharged.

  1. a burst or outpouring of many things at once or in quick succession: a volley of protests.

  2. Tennis.

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

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

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

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

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

verb (used with object),vol·leyed, vol·ley·ing.
  1. to discharge in or as in a volley.

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

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

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

verb (used without object),vol·leyed, vol·ley·ing.
  1. to fly or be discharged together, as missiles.

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

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

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

Origin of volley

1
1565–75; <Middle French volee flight, noun use of feminine past participle of voler to fly <Latin volāre

Other words from volley

  • vol·ley·er, noun

Words Nearby volley

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use volley in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for volley

volley

/ (ˈvɒlɪ) /


noun
  1. the simultaneous discharge of several weapons, esp firearms

  2. the projectiles or missiles so discharged

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

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

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

  4. 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

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

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

Origin of volley

1
C16: from French volée a flight, from voler to fly, from Latin volāre

Derived forms of volley

  • volleyer, noun

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