volley

[vol-ee]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of volley¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of volley¹

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

Example Sentences

When play resumed, and with Munar down break point, the Italian floated over a volley that caught a fortunate net cord and put the set back on level terms.

Read more on BBC

“Every second, every volley, your head is swiveling from side to side,” she said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And so, on a black Christmas night, with sleet volleying into their faces, columns of men struggled through some of the most inhospitable fields to ever yield up a victory.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Police used both physical force and volleys of tear gas to push back them back.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Vlasic then drove the knife in deeper still 20 minutes from time with a cushioned volley to beat goalkeeper Mathias Lamhauge, who had strayed into no man's land.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burst 
• crossfire 
• firing 
• gunfire 
• salvo