Ray Definition

rays
noun
rays
Any of the thin lines, or beams, of light that appear to come from a bright source.
Webster's New World
A graphic representation of one of these, as in heraldry.
Webster's New World
A rapidly moving particle traveling in a straight or nearly straight line.
American Heritage
Any of several lines radiating from a center; radius.
Webster's New World
Sunshine.
Let's go to the beach and catch some rays.
American Heritage
verb
rays
To shine forth in rays.
Webster's New World
To send out in rays; emit.
Webster's New World
To supply with rays or radiating lines.
Webster's New World
To radiate.
Webster's New World
To cast rays on; irradiate.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
pronoun

A surname from a Middle English nickname meaning a king or a roe.

Wiktionary

A diminutive of the male given name Raymond, also used as a formal given name.

Wiktionary

A diminutive of the female given name Rachel, more often spelled Rae.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Ray

Noun

Singular:
ray
Plural:
rays

Origin of Ray

  • From its sound, by analogy with the letters chay, jay, gay, kay, which it resembles graphically.

    From Wiktionary

  • Via Middle English, from Old French rai, from Latin radius (“staff, stake, spoke").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English raye from Old French raie from Latin raia

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old French rai from Latin radius

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Old French raie, from Latin raia.

    From Wiktionary

  • Shortened from array.

    From Wiktionary

  • Alternative forms.

    From Wiktionary

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to ray using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

ray