Relay

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈɹiːleɪ/
• US IPA: /ˈɹileɪ/
• Rhymes: -iːleɪ

From Middle French relai ("reserve pack of hounds"), from relaier ("to exchange tired animals for fresh"); literally, "to leave behind", from Old French relaier ("to leave behind"), from re- + laier ("to leave"), of uncertain origin.

Full definition of relay

Noun

1. (hunting, now rare) A new set of hounds. from 15th c.
2. (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.
3. (by extension) A new set of anything.
• Charles Dickens, Dombey and SonThere 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.
4. A series of vehicles travelling in sequence. from 18th c.
5. (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.
6. (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

• relay race

Verb

1. (obsolete, intransitive, hunting) To release a new set of hounds. 15th-17th c.
2. (transitive, now rare) To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over form another. from 18th c.
3. (intransitive, now rare) To take on a new relay of horses; to change horses. from 19th c.
4. (transitive) To pass on or transfer (information). from 19th c.

Synonyms

• (to relay a message) convey

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˌɹiːˈleɪ/
• US IPA: /ˌɹiˈleɪ/
• Rhymes: -iːleɪ
• Homophones: re-lay

- + lay

Verb

1. Alternative spelling of re-lay