relay
UK[ˈriːleɪ]US[ˈriːleɪ]
n
A race between teams in which each member runs, swims, or does part of the race before being replaced by the next member.
n
An act of passing something along from one person or device to another.
n
An electrical device that allows a small current to switch on or off a much larger current.
v
To receive and pass on (information, news, or a signal).
Morpheme Breakdown
re
lay
re
again
lay
to set down
Etymology
The word "relay" entered English in the late Middle English period from Old French "relai", which itself derived from the verb "relayer" meaning "to change tired horses for fresh ones". This Old French term was formed from "re-" (again) and "laier" (a variant of "laissier", to leave or let). The core concept is one of setting down something (like a tired horse) and picking up a fresh one to continue the journey. This literal sense of passing something along in stages evolved logically into its modern meanings, from races run by successive team members to the passing of information or the function of an electrical switch that passes a signal onward.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + lay (to set down)
re: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
lay: Old English origin, from 'lecgan', meaning "to place or set down".
Examples
She ran the final leg of the relay race and secured the gold medal for her team.
The satellite is used to relay television signals across the continent.
Messages were relayed through a secure network of couriers.