ray

Pronunciation: /ɹeɪ/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a column of light (as from a beacon)
  2. noun a branch of an umbel or an umbelliform inflorescence
  3. noun (mathematics) a straight line extending from a point

Etymology

Via Middle English, borrowed from Old French rai, from Latin radius (“staff, stake, spoke”). Doublet of radius.

In classic literature

Synonyms

beam, beam of light, light beam, ray of light, shaft, shaft of light, irradiation

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
light
Narrower (hyponyms)
high beam, heat ray, sunbeam, laser beam, moonbeam, low beam

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