name
Meaning 1
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
belay
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ˈbiːleɪ/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -iːleɪ
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US: /bɪˈleɪ/
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UK: /ˈbiːleɪ/
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UK: /bɪˈleɪ/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -eɪ
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rhymes with (UK) -iːleɪ
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/bɪˈleɪ/
noun
Meaning 2
The securing of a rope to a rock or other sturdy object.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
The object to which a rope is secured.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A location at which a climber stops and builds an anchor with which to secure their partner.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, sports
Examples
- He would need an experienced partner to belay him on the difficult climbs.
- I could only hope the remaining piton would belay his fall.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To lay aside; to stop; to cancel.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
- Belay that order!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 8
The general command to stop or cease.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 9
To surround; to environ; to enclose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 10
To overlay; to adorn.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 11
To besiege; invest; surround.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 12
To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 13
simple past of belie (“encompass”)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, past
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 14
something to which a mountain climber's rope can be secured
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: outcrop, outcropping, rock outcrop
verb
Meaning 15
fasten a boat to a bitt, pin, or cleat
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fasten, fix, secure
verb
Meaning 16
turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or him
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: fasten, fix, secure
History
Etymology
From Middle English beleggen, bileggen, from Old English beleċġan (“to cover, invest, surround, afflict, attribute to, charge with, accuse”), From Proto-West Germanic *bilaggjan, equivalent to be- (“about, around”) + lay. Cognate with Dutch beleggen (“to cover, overlay, belay”), German belegen (“to cover, occupy, belay”), Swedish belägga (“to pave”).
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Spanish: amarre de seguridad — Translations
- Bulgarian: навивам (navivam) — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Bulgarian: притягам (pritjagam) — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Czech: připevnit — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Finnish: kiinnittää — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Italian: dare volta — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Italian: assicurare — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Spanish: amarrar — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Spanish: anclar — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Ottoman Turkish: مانداللامق (mandallamak) — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Ukrainian: закріпи́ти (zakripýty) — to make fast by turning around a fastening point
- Czech: jistit — to handle a climbing rope
- Dutch: zekeren — to handle a climbing rope
- French: assurer — to handle a climbing rope
- German: sichern — to handle a climbing rope
- Italian: assicurare — to handle a climbing rope
- Russian: страхова́ть (straxovátʹ) — to handle a climbing rope
- Russian: подстрахо́вывать (podstraxóvyvatʹ) — to handle a climbing rope
- Russian: подстрахова́ть (podstraxovátʹ) — to handle a climbing rope
- Spanish: asegurar — to handle a climbing rope
- Swedish: säkra — to handle a climbing rope
- Ukrainian: страхува́ти (straxuváty) — to handle a climbing rope
- Ukrainian: підстрахо́вувати (pidstraxóvuvaty) — to handle a climbing rope
- Bulgarian: стига (stiga) — general command to stop
- Bulgarian: стоп (stop) — general command to stop
- German: beenden — general command to stop
- Russian: отставить (otstavitʹ) — general command to stop
- Spanish: cancelar — general command to stop
- Spanish: anular — general command to stop
- Ukrainian: відста́вити (vidstávyty) — general command to stop