A single line or narrow beam of light; each of the lines in which light (and accompanying radiant heat) may seem to emanate from the sun or other…

transferred and figurative (and in figurative context). Applied to long leafy shoots or tendrils, rays of the sun, etc.

A ray or beam of emitted, reflected, or refracted light. Usually in plural. Obsolete except as in sense 2c.

collective. figurative. Applied to the rays or ‘tresses’ of the sun, the tail of a comet, ‘leafy locks’ of a tree, etc.

figurative (= sense 2b).

A ray of light, a beam.

A ray, or ‘bundle’ of parallel rays, of light emitted from the sun or other luminous body; out-streaming radiance.

As a modifier, as in light beam, light intensity, light ray, light signal, light socket, light source, light wave, etc.