/ reɪ; NAmE / noun
1.
a narrow line of light, heat or other energy :
the sun's rays
ultraviolet rays
The windows were shining in the reflected rays of the setting sun.
—see also cosmic rays , gamma rays , X-ray
2.
ray of sth a small amount of sth good or of sth that you are hoping for
SYN glimmer :
There was just one small ray of hope .
3.
a sea fish with a large broad flat body and a long tail, that is used for food
4.
(also re ) ( music ) the second note of a major scale
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IDIOMS
- a ray of sunshine
- catch / get / grab some rays
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 1 to 2 and idsym. Middle English : from Old French rai , based on Latin radius spoke, ray.
sense 3 Middle English : from Old French raie , from Latin raia .
sense 4 Middle English re , representing (as an arbitrary name for the note) the first syllable of resonare , taken from a Latin hymn.