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ray

ray

8.9
A syllable for the second note in the do re mi scale
  • noun
  • /reɪ/
  • Specialized
: re
  • In our music class, we learned to identify ray as the second note of the scale.

Examples

  • When singing 'Do, re, mi, ray', we use the second note in the major scale.

  • Doog-ray.

  • In the solfège system, the note after 'do' is called ray.

Synonyms

re
vsray
  • Specialized
6 9.9

The second note of a major scale used for singing

has identical meaning but differs in spelling or pronunciation

Compounds

gamma ray
  • Specialized
22 4.2

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

cosmic ray
  • Specialized
19 6.7

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

X-ray machine
  • Specialized
15 3.3

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

ray of sunshine
  • Informal
12 3.2

A person who makes others feel happy

8 8.0

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

7 2.0

A narrow beam of light you can see shining through darkness

ultraviolet ray
  • Specialized
6 3.9

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

4 4.8

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

4 9.9

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

ray of light
  • Informal
3 3.4

Something or someone that brings hope during a difficult time

cathode ray
  • Specialized
3 7.0

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

sun-ray
  • Specialized
2 6.9

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

2 6.0

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

infrared ray
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A type of light you cannot see that makes things warm

X-ray picture
  • Specialized
1 3.0

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

X-ray photograph
  • Specialized
1 3.7

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

beta ray
  • Specialized
1 7.5

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

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 diffraction
  • Specialized
1 7.1

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

X-ray tube
  • Specialized
1 4.0

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

1 7.4

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

alpha ray
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A stream of tiny particles given off by some radioactive materials

1 5.9

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

1 3.9

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

1 7.2

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

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

actinic ray
  • Specialized
1 9.9

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

cow-nosed ray
  • Specialized
1 9.3

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

X-ray photography
  • Specialized
1 3.8

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

butterfly ray
  • Specialized
1 8.1

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

X-ray therapy
  • Specialized
1 3.6

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

1 7.2

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

roentgen ray
  • Archaic
1 6.9

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

ray floret
  • Specialized
1 9.0

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

delta ray
  • Specialized
1 9.9

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

1 8.6

A thin beam of light from the moon

medullary ray
  • Specialized
1 9.9

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

ray flower
  • Specialized
1 8.4

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

cownose ray
  • Specialized
1 9.2

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

1 8.2

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

sun-ray lamp
  • Specialized
7.4

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

vascular ray
  • Specialized
9.8

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

Surface Forms

ray singular
rays plural

Etymology

Ray as the singing syllable is the English spelling of 're', the second note in 'do, re, mi', so it simply names that pitch when you sing the scale.