ray
1 of 3noun (1)
ˈrā 
: 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
ray
2 of 3noun (2)
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 sense 1
6
: particle, trace
a ray of hope
rayed
ˈrād
adjective ray
3 of 3verb
rayed; raying; rays
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
Synonyms
Noun (2)
- beam
- shaft
Verb
- beam
- radiate
- shine
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English raye, from Anglo-French raie, from Latin raia
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French rai, from Latin radius rod, ray
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing ray
Kids Definition
ray 1 of 2
noun
ˈrā
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
2 of 2noun
: 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 Definition
ray 1 of 2
noun
ˈrā
: 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 2noun
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
Biographical Definition
Ray 1 of 3
biographical name (1)
ˈrā
John 1627–1705 English naturalist
Ray
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Nicholas 1911–1979 born Raymond Nicholas Kienzle American film director
Ray
3 of 3biographical name (3)
ˈrī ˈrā
ˈrā Satyajit 1921–1992 Indian film director, writer, and producer
ray 1 of 2
noun
1
as in beam
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object two red eyes reflected in the ray of light from the flashlight Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- beam
- sunbeam
- laser
- spotlight
- moonbeam
- shaft
- sunburst
2
as in glimmer
a very small amount the tapping sound ceased, extinguishing the last ray of hope that the trapped miners were still alive Synonyms & Similar Words
- glimmer
- little
- splash
- hint
- speck
- sprinkling
- shred
- touch
- bit
- particle
- sliver
- spark
- trace
- tad
- fleck
- lick
- streak
- dab
- shadow
- scintilla
- shade
- ounce
- smidgen
- smack
- spatter
- handful
- crumb
- suspicion
- ace
- smell
- smidgin
- dram
- portion
- spot
- smidgeon
- dose
- strain
- dash
- mite
- soupçon
- pinch
- peanuts
- drop
- nip
- atom
- mote
- bite
- minimum
- driblet
- molecule
- grain
- drop in the bucket
- smidge
- scruple
- whit
- dot
- iota
- patch
- skosh
- snap
- fragment
- semblance
- modicum
- syllable
- scattering
- taste
- vestige
- section
- part
- tittle
- minim
- granule
- nibble
- jot
- nubbin
- morsel
- shard
- splinter
- scrap
- smattering
- hoot
- flake
- flyspeck
- chip
- shiver
- smatter
- tatter
- paring
- shot
- clipping
- shaving
- smithereens
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- quantity
- mass
- abundance
- bundle
- mountain
- barrel
- bushel
- loads
- deal
- raft
- pile
- profusion
- wealth
- bucket
- peck
- lot
- stack
- wad
- plenty
- heaps
- fistful
- volume
- boatload
- mess
- gobs
- reams
- oodles
- scads
- surplus
- passel
- slab
- lashings
- excess
- potful
- surfeit
- overabundance
- chunk
- lashins
- superabundance
- bonanza
- embarrassment
- overflow
- lump
- much
- hunk
- oversupply
- superfluity
- overkill
- overage
- overmuch
ray
2 of 2verb
1
as in to shine
to emit rays of light klieg lights were raying against the nighttime sky at the Hollywood premiere Synonyms & Similar Words
- shine
- beam
- glow
- flash
- gleam
- glimmer
- radiate
- light
- flare
- flicker
- glint
- glister
- sheen
- shimmer
- flame
- blaze
- spangle
- glare
- glitter
- twinkle
- fire
- luster
- sparkle
- illumine
- luminesce
- glisten
- coruscate
- burn
- blind
- winkle
- lustre
- scintillate
- irradiate
- brighten
- illuminate
- lighten
- blink
- wink
- dazzle
- daze
- beat (down)
- bedazzle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darken
- blacken
- lower
- lour
2
as in to radiate
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point laugh wrinkles rayed out from the corners of the old man's eyes Synonyms & Similar Words
- radiate
- branch
- flow
- emanate
- stem
- diffuse
- diverge
- derive
- fan (out)
- scatter
- split
- dispel
- dissipate
- spring
- fork
- spread
- proceed
- arise
- splay
- ramify
- part
- separate
- divide
- disperse
- issue
- unyoke
- uncouple
- unlink
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- focus
- meet
- concentrate
- approach
- converge
- funnel
- couple
- near
- link
- connect
- unite
- close in (on)
- join
- center (on)
- centralize