relay

UK: noun: /ˈriːleɪ/, verb: /rɪˈleɪ/

US: /ˈrileɪ; v. also rɪˈleɪ/

US: (n. rē′lā; v. rē′lā, ri lā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•lay¹ /ˈrileɪ; v. also rɪˈleɪ/   n., pl. -lays, v., -layed, -lay•ing —n. 

[countable]
1. a series of persons who take turns helping one another;
   a shift:
   We worked in relays.
2. Sport a race in which each member of a team runs part way.
3. Electricity, Mechanical Engineering
   • , Electricity an electrical device that responds to a change of current or voltage in one circuit by making or breaking a connection in another.

v. [~ + object]

4. to carry or send by or as if by relays:
   relaying a message.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

relay noun / ˈriːleɪ/

1. a person or team of people relieving others, as on a shift
2. a fresh team of horses, dogs, etc, posted at intervals along a route to relieve others
3. the act of relaying or process of being relayed
4. short for relay race
5. an automatic device that controls the setting of a valve, switch, etc, by means of an electric motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism
6. an electrical device in which a small change in current or voltage controls the switching on or off of circuits or other devices
7. a combination of a receiver and transmitter designed to receive radio signals and retransmit them, in order to extend their range
8. (as modifier): a relay station

verb / rɪˈleɪ/(transitive)

1. to carry or spread (something, such as news or information) by relays
2. to supply or replace with relays
3. to retransmit (a signal) by means of a relay
4. to broadcast (a performance) by sending out signals through a transmitting station

Etymology: 15th Century relaien, from Old French relaier to leave behind, from re- + laier to leave, ultimately from Latin laxāre to loosen; see relax

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re-lay  (rē lā′), v.t., -laid, -lay•ing. 

1. to lay again.

Also, relay. 

• re- + lay¹ 1580–90

re•lay¹  (n. rē′lā;v. rē′lā, ri lā′), n., v., -layed, -lay•ing. 
n. 

1. a series of persons relieving one another or taking turns;
   shift.
2. a fresh set of dogs or horses posted in readiness for use in a hunt, on a journey, etc.
3. Sport
   • See relay race. 
   • a length or leg in a relay race.
4. Mechanical Engineering [Mach.] an automatic control device in which the settings of valves, switches, etc., are regulated by a powered element, as a motor, solenoid, or pneumatic mechanism actuated by a smaller, sensitive element.
5. Electricity a device, usually consisting of an electromagnet and an armature, by which a change of current or voltage in one circuit is used to make or break a connection in another circuit or to affect the operation of other devices in the same or another circuit.
6. Aerospace (cap.) [U.S. Aerospace.] one of an early series of experimental low-altitude, active communications satellites.

v.t. 

7. to carry forward by or as if by relays:
   to relay a message.
8. to provide with or replace by fresh relays.
9. Electricity, Telecommunications to retransmit (a signal, message, etc.) by or as if by means of a telegraphic relay.

v.i. 

10. Telecommunications, Electricity [Elect.] to retransmit a signal or message electronically.

• Middle French, derivative of relaier
• Latin laxāre (see relax); (noun, nominal) late Middle English relai set of fresh hounds
• Middle French relaier, Old French: to leave behind, release, equivalent. to re- re- + laier to leave, dialect, dialectal variant of laissier
• (verb, verbal) late Middle English relaien to unleash fresh hounds in a hunt 1375–1425

re•lay²  (rē lā′), v.t., -laid, -lay•ing. 

1. re-lay.