What (who) is ray - definition

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Rays; Ray (physics); Ray (disambiguation); Ray (album)

ray

1) to emit, send forth, send out rays

2) a cathode; cosmic; death; gamma; infrared; ultraviolet; X ray

3) heat; light rays

ray

ray¹

¦ noun

1. each of the lines in which light seems to stream from the sun or any luminous body, or pass through a small opening.

the straight line in which light or other electromagnetic radiation travels to a given point.

(rays) a specified form of non-luminous radiation: ultraviolet rays.

(rays) informal, chiefly N. Amer. sunlight considered in the context of sunbathing.

2. an initial or slight indication of a positive or welcome quality: a ray of hope.

3. Mathematics any of a set of straight lines passing through one point.

4. Botany any of the individual strap-shaped florets around the edge of the flower of a daisy or related plant.

5. Zoology each of the long slender bony supports in the fins of most bony fishes.

6. Zoology each radial arm of a starfish.

¦ verb

1. spread from or as if from a central point.

2. literary radiate (light).

Phrases

ray of sunshine informal a person who brings happiness to others.

Derivatives

-rayed adjective

rayless adjective

Origin

ME: from OFr. rai, based on L. radius 'spoke, ray'.

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ray²

¦ noun a broad flat cartilaginous fish with wing-like pectoral fins and a long slender tail. [Order Batiformes: many species.]

Origin

ME: from OFr. raie, from L. raia.

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ray³

(also re)

¦ noun Music (in tonic sol-fa) the second note of a major scale.

?the note D in the fixed-doh system.

Origin

ME re, representing (as an arbitrary name for the note) the first syllable of resonare, taken from a Latin hymn.

Ray

·vi To shine, as with rays.

II. Ray ·vt To Array.

III. Ray ·noun Array; order; arrangement; dress.

IV. Ray ·noun To mark with long lines; to Streak.

V. Ray ·noun To send forth or shoot out; to cause to shine out; as, to ray smiles.

VI. Ray ·noun One of the radiating spines, or cartilages, supporting the fins of fishes.

VII. Ray ·vt To mark, stain, or soil; to Streak; to Defile.

VIII. Ray ·noun Any one of numerous elasmobranch fishes of the order Raiae, including the skates, torpedoes, sawfishes, ·etc.

IX. Ray ·noun One of the spheromeres of a radiate, especially one of the arms of a starfish or an Ophiuran.

X. Ray ·noun One of a number of lines or parts diverging from a common point or center, like the radii of a circle; as, a star of six rays.

XI. Ray ·noun In a restricted sense, any of the broad, flat, narrow-tailed species, as the skates and sting rays. ·see Skate.

XII. Ray ·noun Sight; perception; vision;

- from an old theory of vision, that sight was something which proceeded from the eye to the object seen.

XIII. Ray ·noun One of a system of diverging lines passing through a point, and regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions. ·see Half-ray.

XIV. Ray ·noun A line of light or heat proceeding from a radiant or reflecting point; a single element of light or heat propagated continuously; as, a solar ray; a polarized ray.

XV. Ray ·noun One of the component elements of the total radiation from a body; any definite or limited portion of the spectrum; as, the red ray; the violet ray. ·see ·Illust. under Light.

XVI. Ray ·noun A radiating part of a flower or plant; the marginal florets of a compound flower, as an aster or a sunflower; one of the pedicels of an umbel or other circular flower cluster; radius. ·see Radius.