: any of an order (Rajiformes) of usually marine cartilaginous fishes (such as stingrays and skates) having the body flattened dorsoventrally, the eyes on the upper surface, and enlarged pectoral fins fused with the head
1
a
: any of the lines of light that appear to radiate from a bright object
b
: a beam of radiant energy (such as light) of small cross section
c(1)
: a stream of material particles traveling in the same line (as in radioactive phenomena)
(2)
: a single particle of such a stream
2
a
: light cast by rays : radiance
b
: a moral or intellectual light
3
: a thin line suggesting a ray: such as
a
: any of a group of lines diverging from a common center
b
4
a
: one of the bony rods that extend and support the membrane in the fin of a fish
b
: one of the radiating divisions of the body of a radiate animal (such as a starfish)
5
a
: a branch or flower stalk of an umbel
b(1)
(2)
rayed; raying; rays
1
a
: to shine in or as if in rays
b
: to issue as rays
2
: to extend like the radii of a circle : radiate
Examples of ray in a Sentence
Noun (2)
two red eyes reflected in the ray of light from the flashlight
the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive
Verb
klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere
laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes
Recent Examples on the Web
Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Those only recently stranded from the sea still have their rich, cobalt-blue color, a pigment that provides both camouflage and protection from the sun’s UV rays during their life on the open ocean.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory had to euthanize the shark-looking ray on Thursday because its health condition continued to deteriorate, it was announced Friday.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
Unfortunately, the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can not only cause sunburn but also lead to premature signs of skin aging—namely, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation—and even skin cancer.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 3 May 2024
Each year, the ozone hole typically peaks in size between September and October, when ice coverage reflects much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays away.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024
The rays of light, beamed in black and white, opened to him a world at once majestic and lost.
—Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 1 May 2024
The ozone layer is anemic from years of abuse, leaving little protection from UV rays.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
The scientists developed a transmitter that can produce a variety of patterns of terahertz rays.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Apr. 2024
Noun
Coola Organic Face Sunscreen, $27 (Save 15%) Made of at least 70 percent certified organic ingredients, the Coola sunscreen provides broad spectrum SPF 50 protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
—Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
Those only recently stranded from the sea still have their rich, cobalt-blue color, a pigment that provides both camouflage and protection from the sun’s UV rays during their life on the open ocean.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory had to euthanize the shark-looking ray on Thursday because its health condition continued to deteriorate, it was announced Friday.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 3 May 2024
Unfortunately, the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can not only cause sunburn but also lead to premature signs of skin aging—namely, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation—and even skin cancer.
—Bella Cacciatore, Glamour, 3 May 2024
Each year, the ozone hole typically peaks in size between September and October, when ice coverage reflects much of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays away.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2024
The rays of light, beamed in black and white, opened to him a world at once majestic and lost.
—Mujib Mashal Atul Loke, New York Times, 1 May 2024
The ozone layer is anemic from years of abuse, leaving little protection from UV rays.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Apr. 2024
The scientists developed a transmitter that can produce a variety of patterns of terahertz rays.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ray.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ray
Cite this Entry
“Ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ray. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ray
1 of 2 noun
: any of numerous flat broad fishes (as stingrays and skates) usually living on the sea bottom and having eyes on the upper surface of their bodies, a long narrow tail, and a skeleton made of cartilage
ray
2 of 2 noun1
a
: one of the lines of light that appear to be given off by a bright object
b
: a thin beam of radiant energy (as light)
c
: a stream of particles (as electrons) traveling in the same line
2
a
: any of a group of lines coming from a common center
b
3
: a plant or animal structure that resembles a ray: as
a
b
: one of the bony rods in the fin of a fish
4
: a tiny bit
a ray of hope
Medical Definition
ray
1 of 2 noun
: any of numerous elasmobranch fishes (order Hypotremata) having the body flattened dorsoventrally, the eyes on the upper surface, and a much-reduced caudal region having typically a slender process often with venomous spines
ray
2 of 2 noun1
: one of the lines of light that appear to radiate from a bright object
2
: a beam of radiant energy (as light) of small cross section
3
a
: a stream of material particles traveling in the same line (as in radioactive phenomena)
b
: a single particle of such a stream
Biographical Definition
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