verb
belay
BEE-lay
Belay (verb) means In climbing, to hold and control the rope so that a falling climber is caught safely. Example: “She belayed her partner carefully as he worked his way up the cliff face.”
verb
1
In climbing, to hold and control the rope so that a falling climber is caught safely.
"She belayed her partner carefully as he worked his way up the cliff face."
2
To secure a rope firmly around a fixed point such as a cleat.
"The sailors belayed the line to a cleat on the deck."
3
As a command, to stop or cancel an action already underway.
""Belay that order," the captain called out, "we're changing course.""
How to use belay
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo secure a rope so someone or something is held safe, or as a command, to stop and undo an order.
Memory tip
You will meet this word almost only in sailing and rock-climbing contexts.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
belay a rope
belay a climber
belay that order
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- belays
- Past tense
- belayed, belaid
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ her partner carefully as he worked his way up the cliff face.
Etymology
From Old English beleccgan, "to lay around, secure" — built from be- ("around") plus lay, later specialised into rope and climbing use.
Rhymes for belay
See all rhymes for belay →Frequently asked questions
What does “belay” mean?
The word “belay” means in climbing, to hold and control the rope so that a falling climber is caught safely. In plain terms, to secure a rope so someone or something is held safe, or as a command, to stop and undo an order.
How do you pronounce “belay”?
“Belay” is pronounced BEE-lay (/bɪˈleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “belay” in a sentence?
Here is “belay” used in a sentence: “She belayed her partner carefully as he worked his way up the cliff face.”
What part of speech is “belay”?
“Belay” is a verb.
Where does the word “belay” come from?
The word “belay” comes from Old English. From Old English beleccgan, "to lay around, secure" — built from be- ("around") plus lay, later specialised into rope and climbing use.
How many meanings does “belay” have?
“Belay” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in climbing, to hold and control the rope so that a falling climber is caught safely.
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