Ray

n. [O. Fr. rai, rait, rais, raiz, N. Fr. rayon, Pr. rai, raig, Sp. & Pg. rayo, It. raggio, razzo, radio, from Lat. radius, a beam or ray. See RADIAL.]

1Sense 1. One of a number of lines or parts diverging from a common point or center, like the radii of a circle; as, a star of six rays.

2Sense 2. (Bot.) A radiating part of a flower or plant; the marginal florets of a compound flower, as an aster; one of the pedicels of an umbel or other circular flower cluster; radius. See RADIUS.

3Sense 3. (Ichth.) One of the radiating bony spines or flexible pencils forming the framework of the fins of fishes.

4Sense 4. (Physics.) (a.) A line of light or heat proceeding from a radiant or reflecting point; a single element of light or heat propagated continuously; as, a solar ray; a polarized ray. (b.) One of the component elements of light, or colored portions of the spectrum; as, the red ray of the spectrum; the violet ray. Brewster.

5Sense 5. Hence, intellectual light; perception; vision; sight; apprehension; notice.

If thy grave ray Hath any man seen, making stealthful way. Chapman.

The air sharpened his visual ray. Milton.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. RAYED; p. pr. & vb. n. RAYING.] [O. Fr. raier, raiier, N. Fr. rayer, Pr. & Sp. rayar, It. raggiare, razzare, to beam, to streak, from Lat. radiare, to beam. See RADIATE.]

1Sense 1. To mark with long lines; to streak. [Obs.]

And the clean waves with purple gore did ray. Spenser.

2Sense 2. To defile or disfigure; to foul. [Obs.]

From his soft eyes the tears he wiped away, And from his face the filth that did it ray. Spenser.

3Sense 3. To send forth or shoot out; to cause to shine out; as, to ray smiles. Thomson.

v. t. To array. [Obs.]

n. [Fr. raie, Sp. raya, It. raia, razza, Lat. raia, Pr. raiada. Cf. ROACH.] (Ichth.) A fish of the Linnaean genus Raia, including the skate, the thornback, and the torpedo.

n. Array; order; arrangement; dress. [Obs.] “And spoiling all her goodly ray.” Spenser.

n. Ray. [Obs.] Spenser.