relay, 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.].

A supply of anything arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]

Relay battery (Elec.), the local battery which is brought into use by the action of the relay magnet, or relay.

relay, a.

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.]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

relay, n. & v.
--n.
1 a fresh set of people or horses substituted for tired ones.
2 a gang of workers, supply of material, etc., deployed on the same basis (operated in relays).
3 = relay race.
4 a device activating changes in an electric circuit etc. in response to other changes affecting itself.
5 a a device to receive, reinforce, and transmit a telegraph message, broadcast programme, etc. b a relayed message or transmission.
--v.tr.
1 receive (a message, broadcast, etc.) and transmit it to others.
2 a arrange in relays. b provide with or replace by relays.

Idiom

relay race a race between teams of which each member in turn covers part of the distance.

Etymology

ME f. OF relai (n.), relayer (v.) (as RE-, laier ult. f. L laxare): cf. RELAX

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THESAURUS

relay

Le Mans, adder, air race, alternator, analytical control unit, analyzer, anchor watch, anode, armature, assign, autoconverter, automobile race, autostarter, autotransformer, battery charger, bicycle race, bit, boat race, brush, cap, capacitor, carry over, cathode, charger, choking coil, coder, coil, collator, communicate, commutator, compensator, compiler, condenser, consign, contest of speed, controller, converter, coupling, cross-country race, cutout, dash, day shift, decoder, deliver, deport, derby, detector, differential, diffuse, disseminate, distributor, divider, dog race, dogwatch, drag race, dynamo, dynamotor, electrode, electrophorus, electroscope, endurance race, expel, export, extradite, footrace, full time, fuse, galvanic pile, galvanoscope, generator, graveyard shift, grid, ground, half time, hand forward, hand on, hand over, heat, hurdle race, ignition, impart, import, inductor, insulator, integrator, interrupter, jumper, lap, lightning rod, lobster trick, magnet, magneto, magnetoscope, make over, marathon, marathon race, match race, memory tubes, metastasize, metathesize, motor-generator, motorcycle race, multiplier, night shift, obstacle race, oscillator, oscilloscope, outlet, overtime, part time, pass, pass on, pass over, pass the buck, perfuse, phase discriminator, pile, plug, pocket, points, position coder, potato race, printer, push button, race, reactor, receptacle, receptor, rectifier, regatta, relay race, resistance box, resistor, rheostat, road race, run, sack race, selector, self-starter, selsyn, shift, shunt, socket, spark coil, spark plug, speedway race, split schedule, split shift, spread, sprint, sprint race, starter, step-down transformer, stint, stock-car race, storage unit, sunrise watch, swing shift, switch, synchronous converter, tap, terminal, three-legged race, time, time switch, timer, toggle switch, torch race, tour, tour of duty, track race, transfer, transfer property, transformer, transfuse, translate, translocate, transmit, transmitter, transplace, transplant, transpose, trick, trickle charger, turn, turn of work, turn over, voltage changer, voltage regulator, voltage transformer, walk, watch, work shift, yacht race

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ROGET THESAURUS

relay

Materials

N materials, material, raw material, stuff, stock, staple, adobe, brown stone, chinking, clapboard, daubing, puncheon, shake, shingle, bricks and mortar, metal, stone, clay, brick crockery, compo, composition, concrete, reinforced concrete, cement, wood, ore, timber, materials, supplies, munition, fuel, grist, household stuff pabulum, ammunition, contingents, relay, reinforcement, reenforcement, baggage, means, calico, cambric, cashmere, raw, wooden, adobe.

Store

N store, stock, fund, mine, vein, lode, quarry, spring, fount, fountain, well, wellspring, milch cow, stock in trade, supply, heap, treasure, reserve, corps de reserve, reserved fund, nest egg, savings, bonne bouche, crop, harvest, mow, vintage, store, accumulation, hoard, rick, stack, lumber, relay, storehouse, storeroom, storecloset, depository, depot, cache, repository, reservatory, repertory, repertorium, promptuary, warehouse, entrepot, magazine, buttery, larder, spence, garner, granary, cannery, safe-deposit vault, stillroom, thesaurus, bank, armory, arsenal, dock, gallery, museum, conservatory, menagery, menagerie, reservoir, cistern, aljibar, tank, pond, mill pond, gasometer, budget, quiver, bandolier, portfolio, coffer, conservation, storing, storage, keep, file (papers), lay in, preserve, Adj, stored, in store, in reserve, in ordinary, spare, supernumerary, adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit.

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