ˈsun-ray
[f. sun n.1 + ray n.1]
1. A ray proceeding from the sun; a ray of sunlight, a sunbeam. Chiefly poet. or rhet.
| 1829 Poe Al Aaraaf 361 The sun-ray dropp'd in Lemnos. 1886 W. J. Tucker E. Europe 226 Gems..twinkling like stars, dazzling like the fiercest sun-rays. 1905 ‘Q’ (Quiller-Couch) Shining Ferry vi. 68 The front door had a fanlight through which fell one broken sunray. |
2. a. A figure representing this; pl. lines radiating from a centre or central disk.
| 1901 Westm. Gaz. 20 Nov. 7/2 The reverse side [of the medal] is surmounted by an impression of the Crown, from which spring sun-rays of the conventional pattern. |
b. attrib., denoting a pattern of radiating pleats, as sun-ray fashion, sun-ray pleating, etc. Also sun-ray pleat, sun-ray pleated adj.
| 1897 Daily News 2 Jan. 6/3 The skirt being pleated in the sun-ray fashion now so very much in vogue. 1903 Young Woman XI. 318/2 For evening dresses accordion pleated—or sun-ray pleated—point d'esprit net is an ideal material. 1904 Westm. Gaz. 28 June 4/2 A sunray voile skirt. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 731 The orange petticoat I had on with sunray pleats. 1935 Times 4 Nov. 9/3 Sunray pleating gives fullness from the knee. 1959 Spectator 2 Jan. 10/2 Short office skirts and dropping Spanish skirts and brisk housewifely sun-ray pleats. 1972 Country Life 25 May 1354/2 Sunray pleating is again in fashion. 1978 Lancashire Life Apr. 79/2 A tailored jacket which can be teamed with a sunray pleated skirt. |
3. An (artificial) ultraviolet ray used for medical or cosmetic treatment. Chiefly attrib., esp. in sun-ray lamp; formerly also ellipt. for sun-ray treatment.
| 1928 Daily Express 27 June 3/6 The speedy development of sun-ray clinics all over the country. Ibid., The treatment of disease by artificial sun-rays. 1930 M. Kennedy Fool of Family x. 89, I wonder if sunray treatment would do her good... Sir Ivor knew nothing of sunray, and he had no faith in doctors. 1954 ‘N. Blake’ Whisper in Gloom ii. xii. 164 Does this young lady..own a sun-ray lamp? 1977 C. Fremlin Spider Orchid xxii. 149 He looked from the bedside table to the sunray lamp. |
So ˈsun-raying a., giving forth rays of sunlight.
| 1850 Allingham Poems, æolian Harp, ‘O pale green sea’ i, The sun-raying West. |