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ray

ray

13 8.5
A main branch of a group of flowers that spreads out
  • noun
  • /reɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radio (de la umbela)
  • The plant produces a stunning display with its vibrant rays extending outward symmetrically.

Examples

  • ...the blue boudoir of a first-class carriage, then English landscapes under the level rays of a setting sun.

    Blog text (22)
  • Moreover, regular polygons induce ray partitions where the angles between consecutive rays are equal, and there is a regular simplicial decomposition in equilateral triangles.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The sunflower's center is surrounded by dozens of rays that attract pollinators.

  • In the diagram, each ray illustrates a different branch in the flower's cluster.

Compounds

gamma ray
  • Specialized
21 4.2

Very strong invisible rays that come from radioactive materials and can harm living tissue

cosmic ray
  • Specialized
15 6.7

High-energy particles from space that enter Earth's atmosphere

X-ray machine
  • Specialized
12 3.3

A machine that uses X rays to take pictures of the inside of the body or of bags

ray of sunshine
  • Informal
7 3.2

A person who makes others feel happy

5 8.0

A strong beam of energy that makes things hot from far away

ultraviolet ray
  • Specialized
5 3.9

A strong invisible light from the sun that can damage skin and kill germs

2 4.8

A very large sea animal with wide triangle-shaped fins that eats tiny sea plants and animals

cathode ray
  • Specialized
2 7.0

A stream of electrons in a vacuum tube that makes images on old television screens or similar devices

2 2.0

A narrow beam of light you can see shining through darkness

1 6.0

A large glass device in old TVs and computer screens that makes pictures with a beam of electrons

ray of light
  • Informal
1 3.4

Something or someone that brings hope during a difficult time

1 9.9

A made-up machine that makes people or things much smaller

X-ray film
  • Specialized
1 3.0

Special film that records pictures made by X-rays to show bones or the inside of objects

X-ray picture
  • Specialized
1 3.0

A picture made with X rays that shows the inside of the body

beta ray
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A kind of radiation made of small fast particles from radioactive atoms

1 7.4

A small ray like a manta that grows to about four feet and swims in groups

1 5.9

A large tropical sea animal with wide, winglike fins that swims gracefully

1 7.2

A flat sea fish with a rounded body that lives on the sea floor and gives strong electric shocks

infrared ray
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A type of light you cannot see that makes things warm

A large flat sea animal in warm water with long pointed fins and white spots on its back

X-ray diffraction
  • Specialized
1 7.1

A way X-rays scatter from the atoms in a crystal to show its structure

butterfly ray
  • Specialized
8.1

A large flat sea animal with a very wide body and a short tail

An electronic device that shows changing electrical signals as lines on a screen using a tube

cownose ray
  • Specialized
9.2

A large flat sea animal with wing-like fins and a pointed nose found along the east coast of North America

cow-nosed ray
  • Specialized
9.3

A large flat fish with a broad rounded head like a cow's nose

delta ray
  • Specialized
9.9

A fast electron knocked out of an atom when radiation hits it

actinic ray
  • Specialized
9.9

A type of light, often ultraviolet, that can cause chemical changes

alpha ray
  • Specialized
7.5

A stream of tiny particles given off by some radioactive materials

medullary ray
  • Specialized
9.9

A band of cells in a stem or root that moves water and nutrients sideways

3.9

A pale beam of light from the moon that shines at night

8.6

A thin beam of light from the moon

ray floret
  • Specialized
9.0

A small petal-like flower at the edge of a daisy or sunflower head

ray flower
  • Specialized
8.4

A flat petal at the edge of a flower head like a daisy or sunflower

roentgen ray
  • Archaic
6.9

People use a very short wave of energy to take pictures of the inside of the body

sun-ray lamp
  • Specialized
7.4

A lamp that gives strong ultraviolet light for medical or beauty treatments

sun-ray
  • Specialized
6.9

A strong invisible light from a special lamp used for tanning or skin treatment

A flat sea fish with a dark back covered in white or yellow dots

vascular ray
  • Specialized
9.8

A thin layer of cells in a plant stem that moves water and food sideways

X-ray photograph
  • Specialized
3.7

A picture of the inside of the body made with X-rays

X-ray photography
  • Specialized
3.8

A way to take pictures of the inside of the body using X-rays

X-ray therapy
  • Specialized
3.6

A medical treatment that uses X-rays to kill cancer cells

X-ray tube
  • Specialized
4.0

A tube with no air that makes X rays when fast electrons hit metal

Surface Forms

ray singular
rays plural

Etymology

Ray in a flower cluster comes from Latin radius 'spoke', since each ray is a branch that spreads from the center to hold blossoms, like lines from a wheel hub.