belay

verb be·lay \ bi-ˈlā , bē- \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Examples: belay in a Sentence

Definition of belay

belayed; belaying

transitive verb

1 a : to secure (a rope or cable) by turns around a cleat (see ¹cleat 1b), pin, or bitt

b : to make fast : to fasten down

belaying ammunition on deck

2 nautical : stop, cancel

belay that last order

3 a : to secure (a person) at the end of a rope

belay a climber

… belaying each other over the difficult places.
—National Geographic

b : to secure (a rope) to a person or object

intransitive verb

1 : to be made fast

knowing where each rope belays on deck

2 nautical : stop, quit —used in the imperative

belay there

3 : to make a line (see ¹line 1) fast by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt

—

belayer

play \-ər\ noun

See belay defined for English-language learners

See belay defined for kids

Examples of belay in a Sentence

The climber belayed the rope.

Recent Examples of belay from the Web

Trying to climb tougher grades should be a part of your efforts to improve, but focusing only on the numbers can ruin the fun for you and your belaying best friends.

— emily abbate, GQ, "Everything You Need to Know Before Joining a Rock Climbing Gym," 20 June 2018
Every week, the kid climbers are accompanied by a volunteer mentor—the same person each week, who belays and gives advice and encouragement.

— christopher solomon, Outside Online, "Climbing to a Better Life for Seattle's Refugees," 27 Apr. 2018
For most national associations, certification involves demonstrating several years of backcountry skiing experience, belaying experience, and basic alpine climbing systems.

— cassidy randall, Outside Online, "When to Have Kids When You Work in the Mountains?," 3 Apr. 2018
Seeing a reflection of her own Federation in this resistance cell, Burnham belays the order and goes down to the alien surface to confront its leader.

— darren orf, Popular Mechanics, "'Star Trek: Discovery' Feels Increasingly More Comfortable In a Universe of Killers," 15 Jan. 2018
The class finished with the auto belay, a machine that belays for solo climbers.

— kara carlson, The Seattle Times, "First time at the rock gym: Here’s how you get started," 12 July 2017
Rope is looped around metal dowels called belaying pins that sit in a horizontal steel bar called a pin rail.

— john kelly, Washington Post, "Like sand through an hourglass, National Theatre’s sandbags are slipping away," 26 June 2017
And experience with mountaineering techniques like belaying isn’t required.

— jeff crider, Condé Nast Traveler, "An Amateur's Guide to Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro," 10 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'belay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of belay

Middle English beleggen to beset, from Old English belecgan, from be- + lecgan to lay

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1550

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

belay

noun

Definition of belay

1 : the securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point (as during mountain climbing)

Belays are more difficult to secure on ice and snow than on rock …
—Kenneth A. Henderson

also : a method of so securing a person or rope

2 : something (such as a projection of rock) to which a person or rope is anchored

Recent Examples of belay from the Web

The bottom climber belays — controlling slack in the rope and arresting falls — and then climbs up after the lead climber finishes the pitch.

— peter fimrite, The Seattle Times, "Witness describes death plunge of two Yosemite climbers," 11 June 2018
The bottom climber belays — controlling slack in the rope and arresting falls — and then climbs up after the lead climber finishes the pitch.

— peter fimrite, The Seattle Times, "Witness describes death plunge of two Yosemite climbers," 11 June 2018
The bottom climber belays — controlling slack in the rope and arresting falls — and then climbs up after the lead climber finishes the pitch.

— peter fimrite, The Seattle Times, "Witness describes death plunge of two Yosemite climbers," 11 June 2018
The bottom climber belays — controlling slack in the rope and arresting falls — and then climbs up after the lead climber finishes the pitch.

— peter fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle, "Witness to death plunge of 2 climbers on El Capitan describes horrific final moments," 10 June 2018
Middle school age: Hoosier Heights: Located just north of 465 at Michigan, this climbing center has equipment for all skill sets, including walls where belay assistance is not required.

— lori fulk / indystar, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana for shy kids: 10 quiet hangouts your kid will love," 19 June 2018
On belay, McBrayer climbed down from the ridge, searching for hours around wind drifts and shouting in hopes of hearing a reply.

— marc lester, Anchorage Daily News, "Weeks after her wedding day, a Polish climber survives a 1,000-foot slide from a Denali ridge," 6 June 2018
Treetop Quest features a continuous belay system on its obstacles, of which there are five levels, so even the littlest ones in your family can try something new.

— bethany ao, Philly.com, "How to celebrate Mother's Day in Philadelphia," 9 May 2018
Then Bielecki would build a belay stance with ice screws, secure Elisabeth, and let Urubku rappel down to join him.

— marcin jamkowski, Outside Online, "Rescue on the Killer Mountain," 11 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of belay

noun derivative of ¹belay

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1905

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

BELAY Defined for English Language Learners

belay

verb

Definition of belay for English Language Learners

: to attach (a rope) to something so that it is secure : to attach a secure rope to (a person) for safety

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belay

Definition of belay

belayer

Examples of belay in a Sentence

Recent Examples of belay from the Web

Origin and Etymology of belay

belay

Definition of belay

Recent Examples of belay from the Web

Origin and Etymology of belay

BELAY Defined for English Language Learners

belay

Definition of belay for English Language Learners

Learn More about belay

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belay

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belayer

Examples of belay in a Sentence

Recent Examples of belay from the Web

Origin and Etymology of belay

belay

Definition of belay

Recent Examples of belay from the Web

Origin and Etymology of belay

BELAY Defined for English Language Learners

belay

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