relay Definition

relay¹
noun

1. A set of workers, supply of materials, etc that replace others doing, or being used for, some task, etc.
2. old use
A fresh supply of horses, posted at various points along a route, to replace others on a journey.
3. A relay race.
4. electronics.
An electrical switching device that, in response to a change in an electric circuit, eg a small change in current, opens or closes one or more contacts in the same or another circuit.
5. telecomm.
A device fitted at regular intervals along TV broadcasting networks, underwater telecommunications cables, etc to amplify weak signals and pass them on from one communication link to the next.
6a. Something which is relayed, especially a signal or broadcast;

Thesaurus: broadcast, transmission, communication, dispatch.
6b. The act of relaying it.


Example: a relay station

verb relays, relayed, relaying

1. To receive and pass on (news, a message, a TV programme, etc).

Thesaurus: transmit, communicate, spread, broadcast, deliver, transfer, send, send forth, carry, pass on.
2. radio.
To rebroadcast (a programme received from another station or source).
intr
3. old use
To get a fresh relay of horses.

Etymology: 15c: from French relaier to leave behind, ultimately from Latin laxare to loosen.

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relay²
re-lay
verb

relays, relaid, relaying
1. To lay something again.

Etymology: 16c.