ral·ly 1 
(rălē)
(rălē)v. ral·lied, ral·ly·ing, ral·lies
v.tr.
1. To call together for a common purpose; assemble: rally troops at a parade ground.
2. To reassemble and restore to order: rally scattered forces.
3. To rouse or revive from inactivity or decline: paused to refresh themselves and rally their strength.
v.intr.
1. To come together for a common purpose: The candidate's supporters rallied on the common.
2. To join in an effort for a common cause: "In the terror and confusion of change, society rallied round the kings" (Garrett Mattingly).
3.
a. To recover abruptly from a setback, disadvantage, or disease: The patient rallied after the fever broke.
b. To increase sharply in price or value after a decline: The housing market rallied in the spring.
4. Sports To exchange strokes before a point is won, as in tennis.
n. pl. ral·lies
1. A gathering, especially one intended to inspire enthusiasm for a cause: a political rally.
2.
a. A reassembling, as of dispersed troops.
b. The signal ordering this reassembly.
3.
a. An abrupt recovery from a setback, disadvantage, or disease: The doctor was delighted with the patient's rally.
b. A sharp increase in price or value after a decline.
4. Sports
a. An exchange of strokes in a court game such as tennis or volleyball, ending when one side fails to make a good return and resulting in a point or the loss of service.
b. A competition in which automobiles are driven over public roads and under normal traffic regulations but with specified rules as to speed, time, and route.
adj.
In sports such as volleyball, being a system of scoring in which points can be won both by the team that is serving and by the receiving team.
[French rallier, from Old French ralier : re-, re- + alier, to unite, ally; see ALLY.]