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Webster 1913 Edition
Relay
Re-lay′
(r?-l?′)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Relaid
(-l?d)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Relaying
.] [Pref.
re-
+ lay
, v.] To lay again; to lay a second time;
as, to
. relay
a pavementRe-lay′
(r?-l?′)
, Noun.
[F.
relais
(cf. OF. relais
relaxation, discontinuance, It. rilascio
release, relief, rilasso
relay), fr. OF. relaissier
to abandon, release, fr. L. relaxare
. See Relax
.] 1.
A supply of anything arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief.
Specifically: (a)
A supply of horses placced at stations to be in readiness to relieve others, so that a trveler may proceed without delay.
(b)
A supply of hunting dogs or horses kept in readiness at certain places to relive the tired dogs or horses, and to continue the pursuit of the game if it comes that way.
(c)
A number of men who relieve others in carrying on some work.
2.
(Elec.)
In various forms of telegraphic apparatus, a magnet which receives the circuit current, and is caused by it to bring into into action the power of a local battery for performing the work of making the record; also, a similar device by which the current in one circuit is made to open or close another circuit in which a current is passing.
Relay battery
(Elec.)
, the local battery which is brought into use by the action of the relay magnet, or relay.
Webster 1828 Edition
Relay
RELA'Y
,Noun.
1.
A supply of horses placed on the road to be in readiness to relieve others, that a traveler may proceed without delay.2.
Hunting dogs kept in readiness at certain places to pursue the game, when the dogs that have been in pursuit are weary.RELA'Y
,Verb.
T.
Definition 2024
relay
relay
See also: re-lay
English
Pronunciation
- (noun) IPA(key): /ˈɹiːleɪ/
- (verb) IPA(key): /ɹiˈleɪ/, /ˈɹiːleɪ/
- Rhymes: -iːleɪ
- Rhymes: -eɪ
Noun
relay (plural relays)
- (hunting, now rare) A new set of hounds. [from 15th c.]
- (now chiefly historical) A new set of horses kept along a specific route so that they can replace animals that are tired. [from 17th c.]
- (by extension) A new set of anything.
- Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son
- There is a snaky gleam in her hard grey eye, as of anticipated rounds of buttered toast, relays of hot chops, worryings and quellings of young children, sharp snappings at poor Berry, and all the other delights of her Ogress's castle.
- Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son
- A series of vehicles travelling in sequence. [from 18th c.]
- (athletics) A track and field discipline where runners take turns in carrying a baton from start to finish. Most common events are 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter competitions. [from 19th c.]
- (electronics) An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current. [from 19th c.]
Derived terms
Translations
a new set of anything that can be used to relieve the existing set when worn out
|
electrical actuator
athletics discipline
Verb
relay (third-person singular simple present relays, present participle relaying, simple past and past participle relayed)
- (obsolete, intransitive, hunting) To release a new set of hounds. [15th-17th c.]
- (transitive, now rare) To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over from another. [from 18th c.]
- (intransitive, now rare) To take on a new relay of horses; to change horses. [from 19th c.]
- (transitive) To pass on or transfer (information). [from 19th c.]
Synonyms
- (to relay a message): convey
Translations
to place (people or horses) in relays
to pass on or transfer (information)
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Etymology 2
Pronunciation
Verb
relay (third-person singular simple present relays, present participle relaying, simple past and past participle relaid)
- Alternative spelling of re-lay