Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: PHYSICS

Sense: 1-5
Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: rai, from Latin radius; RADIUS
Sense: 6
Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: raie, from Latin raia

ray

 noun
     
ray [countable]
1 a straight narrow beam of light from the sun or moon:
The room darkened as a cloud hid the sun's rays.
ray of
Rays of light filtered through the trees.
2TPHP a beam of heat, electricity, or other form of energy ➔ cosmic ray, gamma ray, X-ray1
3

a ray of hope/light etc

something that provides a small amount of hope or happiness in a difficult situation:
a treatment that offers a ray of hope for cancer sufferers
4

a ray of sunshine

someone who is happy and makes a difficult situation seem better
5

catch some/a few rays

informal to sit or lie in the sun:
Let's go out and catch a few rays.
6HBF a large flat sea fish with a long pointed tail
Definition of ray from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
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