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Relay vs Relax - What's the difference?

relay | relax |

In transitive terms the difference between relay and relax

is that relay is to pass on or transfer (information) while relax is to relieve (something) from stress.

As verbs the difference between relay and relax

is that relay is to release a new set of hounds while relax is to calm down.

As a noun relay

is a new set of hounds.

relay

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) , of uncertain origin.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (by extension) A new set of anything.
  • * Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son
  • There is a snaky gleam in her hard grey eye, as of anticipated rounds of buttered toast, relays of hot chops, worryings and quellings of young children, sharp snappings at poor Berry, and all the other delights of her Ogress's castle.
  • A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.
  • (athletics) A track and field discipline where runners take turns in carrying a baton from start to finish. Most common events are 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter competitions.
  • (electronics) An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current.
  • Derived terms
    * relay race

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete, intransitive, hunting) To release a new set of hounds.
  • To pass on or transfer (information).
  • Synonyms
    * (to relay a message) convey

    Etymology 2

    relax

    English

    Verb

    (es)
  • To calm down.
  • To make something loose.
  • to relax''' a rope or cord; to '''relax the muscles or sinews
  • * Milton
  • Horror all his joints relaxed .
  • To become loose.
  • To make something less severe or tense.
  • to relax''' discipline; to '''relax one's attention or endeavours
  • To become less severe or tense.
  • To make something (such as codes and regulations) more lenient.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • The stature of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature.
    {{quote-book
    , year=1953 , author=Edward Corwin , title=The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation , chapter=Section 2. Jurisdiction citation , page=589 , passage=The Court rejected the contention that the doctrine of sovereign immunity should be relaxed as inapplicable to suits for specific relief as distinguished from damage suits, saying: "The Government, as representative of the community as a whole, cannot be stopped in its tracks by any plaintiff who presents a disputed question of property or contract right."}}
  • (of codes and regulations) To become more lenient.
  • To relieve (something) from stress.
  • Amusement relaxes the mind.
  • (dated) To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open.
  • An aperient relaxes the bowels.

    Antonyms

    * stress, excite

    Derived terms

    * relaxable

    Anagrams

    * ----