relay

The definition of a relay is a race, or the act of passing something along from one person or group to another.

(noun)

  1. An example of a relay is a race during a school field day.
  2. An example of relay is the act of getting a message to someone.

To relay is defined as to pass along.

(verb)

An example of to relay is to get a message to someone.

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See relay in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a fresh supply of dogs, horses, etc. kept in readiness to relieve others in a hunt, on a journey, etc.
  2. a crew of workers relieving others at work; shift
    1. relay race
    2. any of the legs, or laps, of a relay race
  3. an act or instance of conveying or transmitting by or as by relays
  4. servomotor
  5. Electronics an electromagnetic or electronic switching device activated by a signal and usually used to control a large current or to activate another device or circuit

Origin: ME relai < MFr relais, pl., orig., hounds kept as reserves at points along the course of a hunt < relaier, to leave behind < re- (see re-) + laier, to leave, let: see delay

transitive verb relayed, relaying

  1. to convey by relays
  2. to convey as if by relays; receive and pass on (a message, news, etc.)
  3. to supply or replace with a relay or relays
  4. Elec. to control, operate, or send on by a relay

See relay in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. An act of passing something along from one person, group, or station to another.
  2. Sports
    a. A relay race.
    b. A division of a relay race.
  3. Electronics A device that responds to a small current or voltage change by activating switches or other devices in an electric circuit.
  4. A crew of workers who relieve another crew; a shift.
  5. A fresh team, as of horses or dogs, to relieve weary animals in a hunt, task, or journey.
transitive verb (rēˈlā, rĭ-lāˈ) re·layed, re·lay·ing, re·lays
  1. To pass along by or as if by relay: relayed the message to his boss.
  2. To supply with fresh relays.
  3. Electronics To control or retransmit by means of a relay.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English relai, fresh team of dogs for a hunt

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from relaier, to relay

Origin: : re-, re-

Origin: + laier, to leave (of Germanic origin; see leip- in Indo-European roots)

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