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Definition of belay verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

belay

verb
 
/ˈbiːleɪ/,
 
/bɪˈleɪ/
 
/bɪˈleɪ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they belay
he / she / it belays
 
/ˈbiːleɪz/,
 
/bɪˈleɪz/
 
/bɪˈleɪz/
past simple belayed
 
/ˈbiːleɪd/,
 
/bɪˈleɪd/
 
/bɪˈleɪd/
past participle belayed
 
/ˈbiːleɪd/,
 
/bɪˈleɪd/
 
/bɪˈleɪd/
-ing form belaying
 
/ˈbiːleɪɪŋ/,
 
/bɪˈleɪɪŋ/
 
/bɪˈleɪɪŋ/
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  1.  
    /ˈbiːleɪ/,
     
    /bɪˈleɪ/
     
    /bɪˈleɪ/
    [intransitive, transitive] belay (something/somebody) (specialist) (in climbing) to attach a rope to a rock, etc; to make a person safe while climbing by attaching a rope to the person and to a rock, etc.
  2.  
    /bɪˈleɪ/
     
    /bɪˈleɪ/
    [transitive] (used especially in orders on a ship) belay something (informal) to stop doing something; to cancel an instruction that has been given
    • Belay that order.
  3. Word Originmid 16th cent. (originally in nautical use): from be- + the verb lay, on the pattern of Dutch beleggen.
See belay in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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