relay

¹

[ noun ree-ley; verb ree-ley, ri-ley ]

noun

1. a series of persons relieving one another or taking turns; shift.
2. a fresh set of dogs or horses posted in readiness for use in a hunt, on a journey, etc.
3. Sports.
   1. relay race.
   2. a length or leg in a relay race.
4. Machinery. an automatic control device in which the settings of valves, switches, etc., are regulated by a powered element, as a motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism actuated by a smaller, sensitive element.
5. Electricity. a device, usually consisting of an electromagnet and an armature, by which a change of current or voltage in one circuit is used to make or break a connection in another circuit or to affect the operation of other devices in the same or another circuit.
6. (initial capital letter) U.S. Aerospace. one of an early series of experimental low-altitude, active communications satellites.

verb (used with object)

, re·layed, re·lay·ing.

1. to carry forward by or as if by relays:

   to relay a message.

2. to provide with or replace by fresh relays.
3. Electricity. to retransmit (a signal, message, etc.) by or as if by means of a telegraphic relay.

verb (used without object)

, re·layed, re·lay·ing.

1. Electricity. to retransmit a signal or message electronically.

relay

²

[ ree-ley ]

verb (used with object)

, re·laid, re·lay·ing.

1. re-lay.

relay

noun

1. a person or team of people relieving others, as on a shift
2. a fresh team of horses, dogs, etc, posted at intervals along a route to relieve others
3. the act of relaying or process of being relayed
4. 1. short for relay race
   2. one of the sections of a relay race
5. an automatic device that controls the setting of a valve, switch, etc, by means of an electric motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism
6. electronics an electrical device in which a small change in current or voltage controls the switching on or off of circuits or other devices
7. radio
   1. a combination of a receiver and transmitter designed to receive radio signals and retransmit them, in order to extend their range
   2. ( as modifier )

      a relay station

verb

1. to carry or spread (something, such as news or information) by relays
2. to supply or replace with relays
3. to retransmit (a signal) by means of a relay
4. to broadcast (a performance) by sending out signals through a transmitting station

   this concert is being relayed from the Albert Hall

relay

/ rē′lā /

1. An electrical switch that is operated by an electromagnet, such as a solenoid. When a small current passes through the electromagnet's coiled wire, it produces a magnetic field that attracts a movable iron bar, causing it to pivot and open or close the switch.

Word History and Origins

Origin of relay¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; (for the verb) late Middle English relaien “to unleash fresh hounds in a hunt,” from Middle French relaier, Old French: “to leave behind, release,” from re- re- + laier “to leave” (dialectal variant of laissier, from Latin laxāre; relax ); (for the noun) late Middle English relai “set of fresh hounds,” from Middle French, derivative of relaier

Word History and Origins

Origin of relay¹

C15 relaien , from Old French relaier to leave behind, from re- + laier to leave, ultimately from Latin laxāre to loosen; see relax

Example Sentences

“A lot of times I’d just go there and look out at the park while I drank coffee or had a meeting with somebody, and I’d relay back to the foot beats what I saw,” said Beck.

From Los Angeles Times

Launched in 1969, just a few months after humans first set foot on the Moon, Skynet-1A was put high above Africa's east coast to relay communications for British forces.

From BBC

Williams, 31, competed at three Olympic Games and was part of Team GB's bronze medal-winning women's 4x400m relay team at Paris 2024.

From BBC

The Dodgers then came back to tie it in the eighth when Ohtani lined a ball off the center-field fence for a double and then raced to third when Gleyber Torres mishandled the relay.

From Los Angeles Times

Fernando Valenzuela was a teenager in Mexico when Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson clubbed three Game 6 homers to clinch that 1977 series and swung the 1978 series toward New York with his controversial hip-check of a potential double-play relay throw to first base in Game 4.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• broadcast
• carry
• communicate
• deliver
• hand over
• send
• turn over