volley Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
    fusillade; salvo; burst.
    • our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise
  2. noun a tennis return made by hitting the ball before it bounces
  3. verb be dispersed in a volley
    • gun shots volleyed at the attackers
  4. verb hit before it touches the ground
    • volley the tennis ball
  5. verb discharge in, or as if in, a volley
    • the attackers volleyed gunshots at the civilians
  6. verb make a volley
  7. verb utter rapidly
    • volley a string of curses

WordNet

Vol"ley noun
Etymology
F. volée; flight, a volley, or discharge of several guns, fr. voler to fly, L. volare. See Volatile.
Wordforms
plural Volleys
Definitions
  1. A flight of missiles, as arrows, bullets, or the like; the simultaneous discharge of a number of small arms.
    Fiery darts in flaming volleys flew. Milton.
    Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe. Byron.
  2. A burst or emission of many things at once; as, a volley of words. "This volley of oaths." B. Jonson.
    Rattling nonsense in full volleys breaks. Pope.
  3. (a) (Tennis) A return of the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) A sending of the ball full to the top of the wicket.
Vol"ley transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Volleyed ; present participle & verbal noun Volleying
Definitions
  1. To discharge with, or as with, a volley.
Vol"ley intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be thrown out, or discharged, at once; to be discharged in a volley, or as if in a volley; to make a volley or volleys. Tennyson.
  2. (a) (Tennis) To return the ball before it touches the ground. (b) (Cricket) To send the ball full to the top of the wicket. R. A. Proctor.

Webster 1913