Meaning & use
ray
A narrow beam of light, heat, or other radiation traveling in a straight line from its source.
See it in a sentence
A single ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and lit up the valley below.
Doctors use x-rays, a type of ray that passes through soft tissue, to see broken bones.
A note on using this word
'A ray of hope' is a common figurative phrase for a small sign of encouragement in an otherwise difficult situation.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A flat cartilaginous fish related to sharks, with a wide, flattened body and a long tail.
A ray glided silently across the sandy seafloor near the coral reef.
3. noun
In geometry, a straight line that extends infinitely from a fixed starting point in one direction.
The diagram showed a ray beginning at point A and passing through point B.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ray”, then compare your use with the examples above.