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

Coast Guard base in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the driver of a U-Haul truck reversed toward security officers who responded with a volley of gunfire, wounding the motorist and a civilian nearby.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He arrived at Saturday’s military demonstration to give a speech and had a seaside view of the M777 howitzers as they fired the first volley of shells.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A Marine spokesperson said one volley of five shells was fired during the demonstration — four shells hit their target and one exploded midair.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Asian equities edged up Thursday as investors weighed the latest volleys in the China-US trade war and expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue cutting interest rates this year.

Read more on Barron's

With his pants around his ankles, a tall man let out a volley of curses and jokes to lighten the mood as a doctor removed a piece of shrapnel from his bloodied buttock.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• burst 
• crossfire 
• firing 
• gunfire 
• salvo