ray
ray — noun
1. a thin straight stream of light or heat that moves in an unbroken path away from
a thin straight stream of light or heat that moves in an unbroken path away from its starting point
A narrow ray of sunlight came through the crack in the bedroom curtain.
collocation: ray of sunlight
The morning sun streamed through the window in warm golden rays.
Heat rays from the campfire warmed the faces of everyone sitting around it.
The lighthouse sent a bright ray of light across the dark surface of the sea.
Tyler pointed the laser at the wall and a thin red ray appeared on it.
文法句型
a ray of [light/sun/heat]
ray + of + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often used with the preposition 'of' to name the source, as in 'a ray of sun' or 'rays of heat.' This is the most common meaning of the noun.
常見錯誤
2. time spent outdoors in sunlight, especially to get or enjoy a suntan
time spent outdoors in sunlight, especially to get or enjoy a suntan
Beatriz spent the whole afternoon catching some rays on the hotel balcony.
collocation: catch some rays
The guests lay by the pool, soaking up the warm rays of the afternoon sun.
collocation: soak up the rays
Strong rays can damage your skin, so wear sunscreen when you are at the beach.
Rohan put on sunglasses to protect his eyes from the bright desert rays.
The children played outside all morning, enjoying the first warm rays of spring.
文法句型
catch (some) rays
the sun's rays
soak up the rays
用法筆記
In this sense 'rays' is most commonly used in the plural. The fixed phrase 'catch some rays' is an informal way of saying 'sunbathe.'
常見錯誤
3. a tiny bit of a positive quality such as hope or comfort that appears during a d
a tiny bit of a positive quality such as hope or comfort that appears during a difficult time
The doctor's encouraging words gave the family a small ray of hope.
collocation: a ray of hope
After months of bad financial news, the job offer felt like a ray of sunshine.
idiom: a ray of sunshine
Yael's car broke down, yet a stranger who stopped gave her a ray of comfort.
During the war, Mert found a tiny ray of kindness from a complete stranger.
文法句型
a ray of [hope/sunshine/comfort]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed pattern 'a ray of + abstract noun' (hope, sunshine, comfort, light, kindness). The noun following 'of' is typically uncountable and positive in meaning.
常見錯誤
4. an ocean creature with a wide, diamond-shaped body and a thin tail, whose inner
an ocean creature with a wide, diamond-shaped body and a thin tail, whose inner frame is made of soft cartilage rather than hard bone
The scuba divers watched a large manta ray glide gracefully over the sandy ocean floor.
compound: manta ray
A stingray has a long tail with a sharp point that can injure careless swimmers.
compound: stingray
A large ray glided past the divers, its wing-like fins moving gracefully.
In biology class, Élise learned that rays are close relatives of sharks and skates.
文法句型
a + ray
[type] + ray
用法筆記
Rays belong to the same group as sharks (cartilaginous fish). Common types include the manta ray, stingray, and skate. The plural form is 'rays.'
5. the name that singers and musicians give to the second pitch in a series of eigh
the name that singers and musicians give to the second pitch in a series of eight notes that make up a musical scale
The children's choir sang 'do, ray, mi, fa' to warm up before the school concert.
solfège: do-ray-mi
Christopher played the note ray on the piano as the teacher nodded in approval.
The music teacher asked the class to sing the scale. 'Ray is the second note,' she reminded them.
The teacher asked the class to sing the scale starting on ray instead of do.
- re
the standard European name for the same note; 'ray' is the English tonic sol-fa spelling
文法句型
do, ray, mi, fa...
用法筆記
In British-style solfège (tonic sol-fa), the note is written as 'ray' but often pronounced simply as 're.' The full set is do-ray-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do. Capitalisation is not required.
常見錯誤
ray — verb
1. to shine or come out in narrow lines, used especially of light passing through s
to shine or come out in narrow lines, used especially of light passing through something
Morning light rayed through the stained-glass window, covering the stone floor with colour.
intransitive: ray through [something]
As the sun rose, its warmth rayed gently across the quiet valley below.
Light rayed from the old brass lamp, casting soft shadows across the wooden desk.
Indra watched the morning sun ray through the thin clouds above the hills.
文法句型
ray + adverb/preposition (through/from/across)
用法筆記
This is a literary or formal verb. In everyday speech, 'shine' or 'beam' is preferred. The subject is almost always light, heat, or another form of energy.
2. to go outward in a pattern of lines that start at a single point and move away i
to go outward in a pattern of lines that start at a single point and move away in different directions
Cracks rayed outward from the centre of the frozen pond after the first hard frost.
pattern: ray outward from
The oak tree roots rayed in all directions beneath the surface of the soil.
From the town square, narrow streets rayed out toward the surrounding countryside.
Indra drew a diagram of straight lines raying outward from a circle in the middle.
文法句型
ray + outward/out + from [point]
用法筆記
Often used with 'outward' or 'out from' to describe a radial pattern. The more common verb for this idea is 'radiate.'
3. to send out light, heat, or other energy in the form of rays
to send out light, heat, or other energy in the form of rays
The old gas lamp rayed a faint orange light that barely reached the street below.
transitive: ray + [energy]
The crystal pendant rayed tiny flashes of coloured light when the sun hit it.
The iron stove rayed heat that dried the wet towels by the kitchen door.
Deep-sea fish rayed a soft blue glow from their bodies in the dark ocean water.
- absorb
to take in rather than send out energy
文法句型
ray + [light/heat/warmth]
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. The verb 'emit' or 'radiate' is almost always preferred. 'Ray' in this transitive sense may sound poetic or dated.