Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

ray

1. ray \'ra-\ n [ME raye, fr. MF raie, fr. L raia] : any of numerous 
   elasmobranch fishes (order Hypotremata) having the body  flattened 
   dorsoventrally, the eyes on the upper surface, and a much-reduced caudal 
   region
2. ray n [ME, fr. MF rai, fr. L radius rod, ray] 1a: one of the lines of 
   light that appear to radiate from a bright object  1b: a beam of light or 
   other radiant energy of small cross section  1c1: a stream of material 
   particles traveling in the same line (as in radio active phenomena) 1c2: a 
   single particle of such a stream  2a: light cast by rays : RADIANCE  2b: a 
   moral or intellectual light  3: a thin line suggesting a ray : as  3a: any 
   of a group of lines diverging from a common center  3b: HALF LINE  4a: one 
   of the bony rods that extend and support the membrane in the fin of  a fish 
   4b: one of the radiating divisions of the body of a radiate animal  4c: a 
   longitudinal vein of an insect's wing  5a: a branch or flower stalk of an 
   umbel  5b1: MEDULLARY RAY  5b2: VASCULAR RAY  6: PARTICLE, TRACE 
3. ray vi 1a: to shine in or as if in rays  1b: to issue as rays  2: to 
   extend like the radii of a circle : RADIATE  1: to emit in rays  2: to 
   furnish or mark with rays