n.
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French rai, from Latin radius rod, ray
Date: 14th century
1 a : any of the lines of light that appear to radiate from a bright object b : a beam of radiant energy (as light) of small cross section c (1) : a stream of material particles traveling in the same line (as in radioactive phenomena) (2) : a single particle of such a stream
2 a : light cast by rays : RADIANCE b : a moral or intellectual light
3 : a thin line suggesting a ray: as a : any of a group of lines diverging from a common center b : HALF LINE
4 a : one of the bony rods that extend and support the membrane in the fin of a fish b : one of the radiating divisions of the body of a radiate animal (as a starfish)
5 a : a branch or flower stalk of an umbel b (1) : MEDULLARY RAY (2) : VASCULAR RAY c : RAY FLOWER 1
6 : PARTICLE , TRACE <a ray of hope>
– rayed \ ' r ā d \ adjective