4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relay  \Re*lay"\,  a.  (Mach.) 
  Relating  to  or  having  the  characteristics  of  an  auxiliary 
  apparatus  put  into  action  by  a  feeble  force  but  itself 
  capable  of  exerting  greater  force,  used  to  control  a 
  comparatively  powerful  machine  or  appliance.  [Webster  1913 
  Suppl.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relay  \Re*lay"\  (r?-l?"),  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Relaid}  (-l?d); 
  p.  pr  &  vb  n.  {Relaying}.]  [Pref.  re-  +  lay,  v.] 
  To  lay  again  to  lay  a  second  time;  as  to  relay  a  pavement. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Relay  \Re*lay"\  (r?-l?"),  n.  [F.  relais  (cf.  OF  relais 
  relaxation,  discontinuance,  It  rilascio  release,  relief, 
  rilasso  relay),  fr  OF  relaissier  to  abandon,  release,  fr 
  L.  relaxare  See  {Relax}.] 
  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  continue  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  telegraphic  apparatus,  a 
  magnet  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. 
 
  {Relay  battery}  (Elec.),  the  local  battery  which  is  brought 
  into  use  by  the  action  of  the  relay  magnet,  or  relay. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  relay 
  n  1:  the  act  of  relaying  something 
  2:  current  flowing  in  one  circuit  can  switch  on  and  off  a 
  current  in  a  second  circuit  [syn:  {electrical  relay}] 
  v  1:  pass  along  "Please  relay  the  news  to  the  villagers" 
  2:  control  or  operate  by  relay 

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