Belay
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /bɪˈleɪ/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Belay is a verb meaning (ambitransitive, nautical) To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
Meaning
(ambitransitive, nautical) To make (a rope) fast by turning it around a fastening point such as a cleat.
More Meanings
- (transitive, climbing) To handle a climbing rope to prevent (a climber) from falling to the ground.
- (transitive) To lay aside; to stop; to cancel.
- (intransitive, nautical) The general command to stop or cease.
- (transitive, obsolete) To surround; to environ; to enclose.
- (transitive, obsolete) To overlay; to adorn.
- (transitive, obsolete) To besiege; invest; surround.
- (transitive, obsolete) To lie in wait for in order to attack; block up or obstruct.
Example Sentences
Belay that order!
jacket […] belayd with silver lace
I could only hope the remaining piton would belay his fall.
He would need an experienced partner to belay him on the difficult climbs.
Word Forms
- belays
- belaying
- belayed
- belaid
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include cancel, forget, abort, bend, belace, bind.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.