Ray Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈreɪ/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A beam or a ray of light; a narrow beam of energy; a line or track.

Etymology

The word “ray” originated from the Old French word “raie”, which means “a line or a strip”. It has been used in the English language since the 14th century.

Usage Notes

When referring to light, it is often used in phrases such as “a beam of light” or “a ray of sunlight”. When used to describe a line or track, it can be used to describe a path or a direction.

Cultural References

Ray is often used in popular culture to describe a beam of light, such as in movies or TV shows, where characters may be lit by a ray of sunlight or use a ray gun.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Ray of hope

Related Words or Phrases

Beam
Line
Track

Collocations

Ray of sunlight
Ray of light
Ray gun

Frequency of Use

Ray is a commonly used word in modern language, particularly in scientific and technical contexts.