vol·ley
(vŏl′ē)n. pl. vol·leys 1. a. A simultaneous discharge of a number of bullets or other projectiles.
b. The bullets or projectiles so discharged.
2. A group of remarks, expressions, or actions directed toward a certain recipient or audience: a volley of oaths; a volley of laughter.
3. Sports a. An exchange of strokes in a court game, such as volleyball, ending when one side fails to make a good return and resulting in a point or the loss of service.
b. A stroke, kick, or other strike of the ball made before the ball touches the ground.
c. The flight of a ball before it touches the ground: kicked the soccer ball on the volley.
v. vol·leyed, vol·ley·ing, vol·leys
v.tr.1. To discharge (projectiles) in a volley: volleyed musket shots at the attackers.
2. Sports To strike (a tennis ball, for example) before it touches the ground.
3. To direct or send in a mass or series: volleyed insults at each other.
v.intr.1. To be discharged in a volley.
2. Sports To make a volley, especially in tennis.
3. To move or be directed rapidly, forcefully, or loudly in a mass or series: The hailstones volleyed down. Charges and countercharges volleyed through the courtroom.
[French volée, from Old French, from voler, to fly, from Latin volāre.]
vol′ley·er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.