relay Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of passing something along from one person or group to another
    • the relay was successful
  2. noun a crew of workers who relieve another crew
  3. noun a fresh team to relieve weary draft animals
  4. noun a race between teams; each member runs or swims part of the distance
    relay race.
  5. noun electrical device such that current flowing through it in one circuit can switch on and off a current in a second circuit
    electrical relay.
  6. verb pass along
    • Please relay the news to the villagers
  7. verb control or operate by relay

WordNet

Re*lay" transitive verb
Etymology
Pref re- + lay, v.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Relaid present participle & verbal noun Relaying
Definitions
  1. To lay again; to lay a second time; as, to relay a pavement.
Re*lay" noun
Etymology
F. relais (cf. OF. relais relaxation, discontinuance, It. rilascio release, relief, rilasso relay), fr. OF. relaissier to abandon, release, fr. L. relaxare. See Relax.
Definitions
  1. A supply of anything arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief. Specifically: (a) A supply of horses placced at stations to be in readiness to relieve others, so that a trveler may proceed without delay. (b) A supply of hunting dogs or horses kept in readiness at certain places to relive the tired dogs or horses, and to continnue the pursuit of the game if it comes that way. (c) A number of men who relieve others in carrying on some work.
  2. (Elec.) In various forms of telegrapfhic apparatus, a megnet which receives the circuit current, and is caused by it to bring into into action the power of a local battery for performing the work of making the record; also, a similar device by which the current in one circuit is made to open or close another circuit in which a current is passing.

Webster 1913