Definition of "relay" in English

noun

1. (hunting, rare) A new set of hounds.

2. (now chiefly historical) A new set of horses kept along a specific route so that they can replace animals that are tired.

3. (by extension) A new set of anything.

4. A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.

5. (sports) A competition between teams where members of a team take turns completing parts of a course or performing a certain action.

6. (electronics) An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current.

verb

1. (transitive) To pass on or transfer (information).

   • The CCTV cameras relay what's going on to the headquarters.
   • Can you relay this message to John?

2. (obsolete, intransitive, hunting) To release a new set of hounds.

3. (transitive, now rare) To place (people or horses) in relays, such that one can take over from another.

4. (intransitive, now rare) To take on a new relay of horses; to change horses.

verb

1. Alternative spelling of re-lay.