relay

[ noun ree-ley; verb ree-ley, ri-ley ]

/ noun ˈri leɪ; verb ˈri leɪ, rɪˈleɪ /

noun

a series of persons relieving one another or taking turns; shift.

a fresh set of dogs or horses posted in readiness for use in a hunt, on a journey, etc.

Sports.

relay race.
a length or leg in a relay race.

Machinery. an automatic control device in which the settings of valves, switches, etc., are regulated by a powered element, as a motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism actuated by a smaller, sensitive element.

Electricity. a device, usually consisting of an electromagnet and an armature, by which a change of current or voltage in one circuit is used to make or break a connection in another circuit or to affect the operation of other devices in the same or another circuit.

(initial capital letter) U.S. Aerospace. one of an early series of experimental low-altitude, active communications satellites.

verb (used with object), re·layed, re·lay·ing.

to carry forward by or as if by relays: to relay a message.

to provide with or replace by fresh relays.

Electricity. to retransmit (a signal, message, etc.) by or as if by means of a telegraphic relay.

verb (used without object), re·layed, re·lay·ing.

Electricity. to retransmit a signal or message electronically.

Origin of relay

1375–1425; (v.) late Middle English relaien to unleash fresh hounds in a hunt < Middle French relaier, Old French: to leave behind, release, equivalent to re- re- + laier to leave, dialectal variant of laissier < Latin laxāre (see relax); (noun) late Middle English relai set of fresh hounds < Middle French, derivative of relaier

Words nearby relay

relaxation suture, relaxation time, relaxed, relaxer, relaxin, relay, relay fast, relay language, relay race, relearn, relearning

Definition for relay (2 of 3)

relay ²

[ ree-ley ]

/ riˈleɪ /

verb (used with object), re·laid, re·lay·ing.

re-lay.

Definition for relay (3 of 3)

re-lay

or re·lay

[ ree-ley ]

/ riˈleɪ /

verb (used with object), re-laid, re-lay·ing.

to lay again.

Origin of re-lay

First recorded in 1580–90; re- + lay¹

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-lay

re-lay relay

Example sentences from the Web for relay

Pippa and and her brother are part of a team of eight cyclists, and will be riding three hours a day each in relay.

Pippa's Cross America Cycle Race |Tom Sykes |June 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Teams generally race in a relay format with one racer always on the road.

Pippa Middleton To Cycle Across America ... Starting Tomorrow |Tom Sykes |June 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Relay: Teams of four compete in a four-part race, 4x7.5km (30km total) for men and 4x6km (24km total) for women.

Why the Biathlon Makes Bonds of Us All |Brett Singer |February 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They also make phone calls and relay data to third-party fitness apps such as MapMyRun.

These Are the Best Fitness Gadgets at CES |Megan Humphreys |January 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

The man was there to relay a message regarding a drug case in which he was awaiting sentencing by the judge.

The Myths of Matthew Shepard’s Infamous Death |Stephen Jimenez |September 22, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Maybe we'll have to relay him some instrument checks, to keep him busy.

Suzy |Watson Parker
A relay swimming race would be a good stunt, suggested Fred.

The Go Ahead Boys in the Island Camp |Ross Kay
At that time communication was kept up between them by a line of relay couriers.

Mosby's War Reminiscences |John Singleton Mosby
He had dropped in the harness and younger men were taking up the relay race.

The Tyranny of Weakness |Charles Neville Buck
Each chair was accompanied besides by a relay of eight more porters.

From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan |Helena Pretrovna Blavatsky

British Dictionary definitions for relay

relay

noun (ˈriːleɪ)

a person or team of people relieving others, as on a shift

a fresh team of horses, dogs, etc, posted at intervals along a route to relieve others

the act of relaying or process of being relayed

short for relay race
one of the sections of a relay race

an automatic device that controls the setting of a valve, switch, etc, by means of an electric motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism

electronics an electrical device in which a small change in current or voltage controls the switching on or off of circuits or other devices

radio

a combination of a receiver and transmitter designed to receive radio signals and retransmit them, in order to extend their range
(as modifier)a relay station

verb (rɪˈleɪ) (tr)

to carry or spread (something, such as news or information) by relays

to supply or replace with relays

to retransmit (a signal) by means of a relay

British to broadcast (a performance) by sending out signals through a transmitting station this concert is being relayed from the Albert Hall

Word Origin for relay

C15 relaien, from Old French relaier to leave behind, from re- + laier to leave, ultimately from Latin laxāre to loosen; see relax

Scientific definitions for relay

relay

[ rē′lā ]

An electrical switch that is operated by an electromagnet, such as a solenoid. When a small current passes through the electromagnet's coiled wire, it produces a magnetic field that attracts a movable iron bar, causing it to pivot and open or close the switch.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

relay

noun

verb (used with object), re·layed, re·lay·ing.

verb (used without object), re·layed, re·lay·ing.

Origin of relay

Words nearby relay

Definition for relay (2 of 3)

verb (used with object), re·laid, re·lay·ing.