'Ray' definitions:

Definition of 'ray'

From: WordNet
noun
A column of light (as from a beacon) [syn: beam, beam of light, light beam, ray, ray of light, shaft, shaft of light, irradiation]
noun
A branch of an umbel or an umbelliform inflorescence
noun
(mathematics) a straight line extending from a point
noun
A group of nearly parallel lines of electromagnetic radiation [syn: beam, ray, electron beam]
noun
The syllable naming the second (supertonic) note of any major scale in solmization [syn: re, ray]
noun
Any of the stiff bony spines in the fin of a fish
noun
Cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills on the underside; most swim by moving the pectoral fins
verb
Emit as rays; "That tower rays a laser beam for miles across the sky"
verb
Extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center; "spokes radiate from the hub of the wheel"; "This plants radiate spines in all directions" [syn: radiate, ray]
verb
Expose to radiation; "irradiate food" [syn: irradiate, ray]

Definition of 'Ray'

From: GCIDE
  • Ray \Ray\, n. [OF. rai, F. rais, fr. L. radius a beam or ray, staff, rod, spoke of a wheel. Cf. Radius.]
  • 1. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Bot.) 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Zool.) (a) One of the radiating spines, or cartilages, supporting the fins of fishes. (b) One of the spheromeres of a radiate, especially one of the arms of a starfish or an ophiuran. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Physics) (a) 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. (b) 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Sight; perception; vision; -- from an old theory of vision, that sight was something which proceeded from the eye to the object seen. [1913 Webster]
  • All eyes direct their rays On him, and crowds turn coxcombs as they gaze. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Geom.) One of a system of diverging lines passing through a point, and regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions. See Half-ray. [1913 Webster]
  • Bundle of rays. (Geom.) See Pencil of rays, below.
  • Extraordinary ray (Opt.), that one of two parts of a ray divided by double refraction which does not follow the ordinary law of refraction.
  • Ordinary ray (Opt.) that one of the two parts of a ray divided by double refraction which follows the usual or ordinary law of refraction.
  • Pencil of rays (Geom.), a definite system of rays.
  • Ray flower, or Ray floret (Bot.), one of the marginal flowers of the capitulum in such composite plants as the aster, goldenrod, daisy, and sunflower. They have an elongated, strap-shaped corolla, while the corollas of the disk flowers are tubular and five-lobed.
  • Ray point (Geom.), the common point of a pencil of rays.
  • Roentgen ray, {R["o]ntgen ray} (r[~e]nt"g[e^]n r[=a]`) (Phys.), a form of electromagnetic radiation generated in a very highly exhausted vacuum tube by an electrical discharge; now more commonly called X-ray. It is composed of electromagnetic radiation of wavelength shorter than that of ultraviolet light but longer than that of gamma rays. It is capable of passing through many bodies opaque to light, and producing photographic and fluorescent effects by which means pictures showing the internal structure of opaque objects are made, called X-rays, radiographs, sciagraphs, X-ray photographs, radiograms. So called from the discoverer, W. C. R["o]ntgen.
  • X ray, the R["o]ntgen ray; -- so called by its discoverer because of its enigmatical character, x being an algebraic symbol for an unknown quantity. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Definition of 'Ray'

From: GCIDE
  • Ray \Ray\ (r[=a]), v. t. [An aphetic form of array; cf. Beray.]
  • 1. To array. [Obs.] --Sir T. More. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To mark, stain, or soil; to streak; to defile. [Obs.] "The filth that did it ray." --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ray'

From: GCIDE
  • Ray \Ray\, n. Array; order; arrangement; dress. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • And spoiling all her gears and goodly ray. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ray'

From: GCIDE
  • Ray \Ray\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rayed (r[=a]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Raying.] [Cf. OF. raier, raiier, rayer, L. radiare to irradiate. See Ray, n., and cf. Radiate.]
  • 1. To mark with long lines; to streak. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. [From Ray, n.] To send forth or shoot out; to cause to shine out; as, to ray smiles. [R.] --Thomson. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ray'

From: GCIDE
  • Ray \Ray\, v. i. To shine, as with rays. --Mrs. Browning. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ray'

From: GCIDE

Synonyms of 'ray'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Ray, ND -- U.S. city in North Dakota

From: Gazetteer 2000
Name :
Ray, ND -- U.S. city in North Dakota
Population (2000) :
534
Housing Units (2000) :
296
Land area (2000) :
1.004687 sq. miles (2.602128 sq. km)
Water area (2000) :
0.036858 sq. miles (0.095463 sq. km)
Total area (2000) :
1.041545 sq. miles (2.697591 sq. km)
FIPS code :
65580
Located within :
North Dakota (ND), FIPS 38
Location :
48.344875 N, 103.166292 W
Note :
some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.

Ray -- U.S. County in Missouri

From: Gazetteer 2000
Name :
Ray -- U.S. County in Missouri
Population (2000) :
23354
Housing Units (2000) :
9371
Land area (2000) :
569.465468 sq. miles (1474.908728 sq. km)
Water area (2000) :
4.108651 sq. miles (10.641357 sq. km)
Total area (2000) :
573.574119 sq. miles (1485.550085 sq. km)
Located within :
Missouri (MO), FIPS 29
Location :
39.321065 N, 94.023249 W

Words containing 'Ray'