ray

noun \ ˈrā \

Definition of ray

: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

Origin and Etymology of ray

Middle English raye, from Anglo-French raie, from Latin raia

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Fishes Terms

char, chum, ichthyology, smelt, tetra, turbot

ray

noun

Definition of ray

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 :half line

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) :medullary ray

(2) :vascular ray

c :ray flower 1

6 :particle, trace

a ray of hope

—

rayed

play \ˈrād\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of ray

Middle English, from Anglo-French rai, from Latin radius rod, ray

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

ray

verb

Definition of ray

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

1 :to emit in rays

2 :to furnish or mark with rays

Examples of ray in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of ray

1598

ray Synonyms

Synonyms

beam, radiate, shine

Antonyms

concentrate, converge, focus, funnel, meet

Related Words

blaze, burn, fire, flame, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, glow, luminesce, sheen, shimmer; blink, coruscate, flare, flash, flicker, luster (or lustre), scintillate, spangle, sparkle, twinkle, wink, winkle; beat (down), glare; brighten, illuminate, illumine, irradiate, light, lighten; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle

Near Antonyms

blacken, darken; lower (also lour)

Ray

biographical name \ ˈrā \

Definition of Ray

John 1627–1705 English naturalist

Ray

biographical name

Definition of Ray

Nicholas 1911–1979 born Raymond Nicholas Kienzle American film director

Ray

biographical name \ ˈrī , ˈrā \

Definition of Ray

Satyajit 1921–1992 Indian film director, writer, and producer

RAY Defined for Kids

ray

noun \ ˈrā \

Definition of ray for Students

1 :one of the lines of light that appear to be given off by a bright object

rays of sunlight

2 :a thin beam of radiant energy (as light)

3 :light cast in rays

4 :a tiny bit :particle

a ray of hope

5 :any of a group of lines that spread out from the same center

6 :a straight line extending from a point in one direction only

7 :a slender plant or animal structure Bony rays support a fish's fin.

ray

noun

Definition of ray for Students

:a flat broad fish (as a skate or stingray) related to the shark that has its eyes on the top of its head and often winglike fins

Medical Dictionary

ray

noun \ ˈrā \

medical Definition of ray

: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

noun

medical Definition of ray

1 :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

—

rayed

play \ˈrād\ adjective

Learn More about ray

See words that rhyme with ray Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ray Spanish Central: Translation of ray Nglish: Translation of ray for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ray for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ray

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Origin and Etymology of ray

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Definition of ray for Students

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