Collins English-English Dictionary

ray [reɪ]

1. 1. n a narrow beam of light; gleam

2. 2. n a slight indication, esp of something anticipated or hoped for

   a ray of solace

3. 3. n [maths] a straight line extending from a point

4. 4. n a thin beam of electromagnetic radiation or particles

5. 5. n any of the bony or cartilaginous spines of the fin of a fish that form the support for the soft part of the fin

6. 6. n any of the arms or branches of a starfish or other radiate animal

7. 7. n [astronomy] any of a number of bright streaks that radiate from the youngest lunar craters, such as Tycho; they are composed of crater ejecta not yet darkened, and extend considerable distances

8. 8. n [botany] any strand of tissue that runs radially through the vascular tissue of some higher plants - See medullary ray

9. 9. vb (of an object) to emit (light) in rays or (of light) to issue in the form of rays

10. 10. vi. [intr] (of lines, etc) to extend in rays or on radiating paths

11. 11. vt. [tr] to adorn (an ornament, etc) with rays or radiating lines

12. 12. vt. [Etymology] C14: from Old French rai, from Latin radius spoke, radius

ray [reɪ]

1. 1. n any of various marine selachian fishes typically having a flattened body, greatly enlarged winglike pectoral fins, gills on the undersurface of the fins, and a long whiplike tail. They constitute the orders Torpediniformes (electric rays) and Rajiformes

2. 2. n [Etymology] C14: from Old French raie, from Latin raia

ray [reɪ]

1. 1. n [music] (in tonic sol-fa) the second degree of any major scale; supertonic

2. 2. n [Etymology] C14: see gamut