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half line

 - 7 dictionary results

half-line

[haf-lahyn, hahf-]
–noun Mathematics.
ray (def. 7b).

Origin:
1910–15

ray

1[rey]
–noun
1. a narrow beam of light.
2. a gleam or slight manifestation: a ray of hope.
3. a raylike line or stretch of something.
4. light or radiance.
5. a line of sight.
6. Physics, Optics.
a. any of the lines or streams in which light appears to radiate from a luminous body.
b. the straight line normal to the wave front in the propagation of radiant energy.
c. a stream of material particles all moving in the same straight line.
7. Mathematics.
a. one of a system of straight lines emanating from a point.
b. Also called half-line. the part of a straight line considered as originating at a point on the line and as extending in one direction from that point.
8. any of a system of parts radially arranged.
9. Zoology.
a. one of the branches or arms of a starfish or other radiate animal.
b. one of the bony or cartilaginous rods in the fin of a fish.
10. Botany.
a. ray flower.
b. one of the branches of an umbel.
c. vascular ray.
d. (in certain composite plants) the marginal part of the flower head.
11. Astronomy. one of many long, bright streaks radiating from some of the large lunar craters.
12. a prominent upright projection from the circlet of a crown or coronet, having a pointed or ornamented termination.
–verb (used without object)
13. to emit rays.
14. to issue in rays.
–verb (used with object)
15. to send forth in rays.
16. to throw rays upon; irradiate.
17. to subject to the action of rays, as in radiotherapy.
18. Informal. to make a radiograph of; x-ray.
19. to furnish with rays or radiating lines.
20. get or grab some rays, Slang. to relax in the sun, esp. to sunbathe.

Origin:
1300–50; ME raie, raye < OF rai < L radius radius


raylike, adjective


1. See gleam.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To half line
half-line or half line   (hāf'līn', häf'-)
n.  See ray1.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ray  (2)
"type of fish related to sharks," 1323, from Fr. raie (13c.), from L. raia, of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2ray
Function: noun
1 : one of the lines of light that appear to radiate from a bright object
2 : a beam of radiantenergy (as light) of small cross section
3 a : a stream of material particles traveling in the same line (as in radioactive phenomena) b : a single particle ofsuch a stream —rayed /'rAd/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Ray (rā), John. 1627-1705.

English naturalist who was the first to use anatomy to distinguish between specific plants and animals. He established the species as the basic classification of living things.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
ray   (rā)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. A thin line or narrow beam of light or other radiation.

  2. A geometric figure consisting of the part of a line that is on one side of a point on the line.

  3. See ray flower.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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