ray
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ray 1
(rā)n.
1.
a. A narrow stream of radiant energy, especially visible light, traveling in a straight or nearly straight line.
b. A narrow stream of particles such as protons traveling in a straight or nearly straight line.
c. A rapidly moving particle traveling in a straight or nearly straight line.
d. rays Sunshine: Let's go to the beach and catch some rays.
2. A small amount; a trace: not a ray of hope left.
3. Mathematics A straight line extending from a point. Also called half-line.
4. A structure or part having the form of a straight line extending from a point, such as:
a. Any of the bright streaks that are seen radiating from some craters on the moon.
b. A ray flower or the strap-shaped portion of the corolla of a ray flower.
c. A branch of an umbel.
d. One of the bony spines supporting the membrane of a fish's fin.
e. One of the arms of a starfish or other radiate animal.
tr.v. rayed, ray·ing, rays
1. To send out as rays; emit.
2. To supply with rays or radiating lines.
3. To cast rays on; irradiate.
[Middle English rai, from Old French, from Latin radius, pointed stick, spoke, radius of a circle, ray of light (from the representation of rays of light as spearlike shafts ), of unknown origin.]
ray 2
(rā)n.
1. Any of various cartilaginous fishes of the superorder Batoidea, having ventral gill slits, enlarged pelvic fins that are fused to the sides of the head, and a flattened body, and including the stingrays, skates, and guitarfishes.
2. Any of various members of this superorder having a whiplike tail usually with a stinging spine, such as a stingray, considered in contrast to a guitarfish, sawfish, or skate.
[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman raie, from Latin raia; possibly akin to Dutch rog and Old English reohhe (both the Latin and the Germanic perhaps ultimately being borrowed from the same European substrate source).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ray
(reɪ)n
1. a narrow beam of light; gleam
2. a slight indication, esp of something anticipated or hoped for: a ray of solace.
3. (Mathematics) maths a straight line extending from a point
4. (General Physics) a thin beam of electromagnetic radiation or particles
5. (Zoology) any of the bony or cartilaginous spines of the fin of a fish that form the support for the soft part of the fin
6. (Zoology) any of the arms or branches of a starfish or other radiate animal
7. (Astronomy) astronomy any of a number of bright streaks that radiate from the youngest lunar craters, such as Tycho; they are composed of crater ejecta not yet darkened, and extend considerable distances
8. (Botany) botany any strand of tissue that runs radially through the vascular tissue of some higher plants. See medullary ray
vb
9. (of an object) to emit (light) in rays or (of light) to issue in the form of rays
10. (intr) (of lines, etc) to extend in rays or on radiating paths
11. (Art Terms) (tr) to adorn (an ornament, etc) with rays or radiating lines
[C14: from Old French rai, from Latin radius spoke, radius]
ray
(reɪ)n
(Animals) any of various marine selachian fishes typically having a flattened body, greatly enlarged winglike pectoral fins, gills on the undersurface of the fins, and a long whiplike tail. They constitute the orders Torpediniformes (electric rays) and Rajiformes
[C14: from Old French raie, from Latin raia]
ray
(reɪ)n
(Music, other) music (in tonic sol-fa) the second degree of any major scale; supertonic
[C14: see gamut]
Ray
(reɪ)n
(Placename) Cape Ray a promontory in SW Newfoundland, Canada
Ray
(reɪ)n
1. (Biography) John. 1627–1705, English naturalist. He originated natural botanical classification and the division of flowering plants into monocotyledons and dicotyledons
2. (Biography) Man, real name Emmanuel Rudnitsky. 1890–1976, US surrealist photographer
3. (Biography) Satyajit (ˈsætjədʒɪt). 1921–92, Indian film director, noted for his Apu trilogy (1955–59)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ray1
(reɪ)n.
1. a narrow beam of light.
2. a slight manifestation: a ray of hope.
3. radiance.
4.
a. any of the lines or streams in which light appears to radiate from a luminous body.
b. the straight line normal to the wave front in the propagation of radiant energy.
c. a stream of particles all moving in the same straight line. Compare gamma ray, alpha ray.
5.
a. one of a system of straight lines emanating from a point.
b. the part of a straight line considered as originating at a point on the line and as extending in one direction from that point.
6. any of a system of parts radially arranged.
7.
a. one of the branches or arms of a starfish or other radiate animal.
b. one of the bony or cartilaginous rods in the fin of a fish.
9. one of many long, bright streaks radiating from some large lunar craters.
v.i. 10. to emit rays.
11. to issue in rays.
v.t. 12. to send forth in rays.
13. to throw rays upon; irradiate.
14. to subject to the action of rays, as in radiotherapy.
Idioms: get or grab some rays, Slang. to sunbathe.
[1300–50; Middle English raie, raye < Old French rai < Latin radius]
ray2
(reɪ)n.
any of numerous elasmobranch fishes having a flattened body and greatly enlarged pectoral fins with the gills on the undersides.
[1275–1325; Middle English raye (< Old French rai) < Latin raia]
Ray
(reɪ)n.
Man, 1890–1976, U.S. painter and photographer.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ray
(rā)1. Physics A thin line or narrow beam of light or other radiation.
2. Mathematics A geometric figure consisting of the part of a line that is on one side of a point on the line.
3. Botany A narrow flower resembling a petal, such as one of those surrounding the disk-shaped flower cluster of a daisy or sunflower.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ray
- shaft - A ray of light.
- radiate - As an adjective, it means having rays or parts coming out of a center, from Latin radius, "ray, spoke."
- radio wave - Travels like rays of light, so it takes its name from Latin radius, "spoke of a wheel; ray of light."
- sol-fa - The sol-fa syllables are doh, ray, mi, fah, sol, lah, te—for the notes of the major musical scale.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ray(s)
an order or array of soldiers, 1470.Examples: rays of chastity, 1634; of comfort, 1781; of divinity, 1674; of genius, 1856; of gold, 1729; of hope, 1838; of horsemen, 1542; of truth, 1732.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ray
Past participle: rayed
Gerund: raying
| Imperative |
|---|
| ray |
| ray |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  ray - a column of light (as from a beacon)heat ray - a ray that produces a thermal effect high beam - the beam of a car's headlights that provides distant illumination light, visible light, visible radiation - (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; "the light was filtered through a soft glass window" laser beam - a beam of light generated by a laser low beam - the beam of a car's headlights that provides illumination for a short distance |
| 2. | ray - a branch of an umbel or an umbelliform inflorescence | |
| 3. | ray - (mathematics) a straight line extending from a point math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement vector - a straight line segment whose length is magnitude and whose orientation in space is direction | |
| 4. | ray - a group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation cathode ray - a beam of electrons emitted by the cathode of an electrical discharge tube electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, nonparticulate radiation - radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge particle beam - a collimated flow of particles (atoms or electrons or molecules) | |
| 5. | ray - the syllable naming the second (supertonic) note of any major scale in solmization solfa syllable - one of the names for notes of a musical scale in solmization | |
| 6. | ray - any of the stiff bony spines in the fin of a fish spine - a sharp rigid animal process or appendage; as a porcupine quill or a ridge on a bone or a ray of a fish fin fin - organ of locomotion and balance in fishes and some other aquatic animals | |
| 7. | ray - cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills on the underside; most swim by moving the pectoral fins elasmobranch, selachian - any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates crampfish, electric ray, numbfish, torpedo - any sluggish bottom-dwelling ray of the order Torpediniformes having a rounded body and electric organs on each side of the head capable of emitting strong electric discharges sawfish - primitive ray with sharp teeth on each edge of a long flattened snout guitarfish - primitive tropical bottom-dwelling ray with a guitar-shaped body stingray - large venomous ray with large barbed spines near the base of a thin whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds eagle ray - powerful free-swimming tropical ray noted for `soaring' by flapping winglike fins; usually harmless but has venomous tissue near base of the tail as in stingrays manta ray, manta, devilfish - extremely large pelagic tropical ray that feeds on plankton and small fishes; usually harmless but its size make it dangerous if harpooned skate - large edible rays having a long snout and thick tail with pectoral fins continuous with the head; swim by undulating the edges of the pectoral fins | |
| Verb | 1. | ray - emit as rays; "That tower rays a laser beam for miles across the sky" |
| 2. | ray - extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center; "spokes radiate from the hub of the wheel"; "This plants radiate spines in all directions" extend, run, lead, pass, go - stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point; "Service runs all the way to Cranbury"; "His knowledge doesn't go very far"; "My memory extends back to my fourth year of life"; "The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets" | |
| 3. | ray - expose to radiation; "irradiate food" bombard - direct high energy particles or radiation against |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
ray
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
ray
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بَصيص، مِقْدار قَليلشُعاع
paprsekpolopřímkazásvit
glimtstråle
rajo
rahtunenrauskusäde
polupravaczračitizrakzraka
rájasugár
sinar
geislivonarglæta
starsrajastariņšstarojums
płaszczkapromień
rază
žarek
rockastråle
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
ray
[ˈreɪ] n [light] → rayon m
a ray of light → un rayon de lumière
the sun's rays → les rayons du soleil
ultraviolet rays → rayons ultraviolets
gamma rays → rayons gamma
a ray of light → un rayon de lumière
the sun's rays → les rayons du soleil
ultraviolet rays → rayons ultraviolets
gamma rays → rayons gamma
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
ray
1n
→ Strahl m; a ray of hope → ein Hoffnungsschimmer or -strahl m; a ray of sunshine (fig) → ein kleiner Trost
(of fish) → Flossenstrahl m; (of starfish) → Arm m
ray
2n (= fish) → Rochen m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
ray
(rei) noun1. a narrow beam (of light, heat etc). the sun's rays; X-rays; heat-rays; a ray of light.
2. a slight amount (of hope etc).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
ray
n. rayo.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
ray
n rayo; the sun’s rays..los rayos solares..los rayos del solEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.