volley
/'vɔli/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A simultaneous discharge of multiple projectiles, especially gunfire: A volley refers to the act of firing many shots or launching many objects at the same time.
- A burst or series of similar things delivered rapidly: It can describe a rapid, continuous series of similar sounds or actions, such as laughter or questions.
- (Sports) A shot or kick made by striking a ball before it touches the ground: In sports like tennis or soccer, a volley is a stroke where the ball is hit in the air without letting it bounce.
Verb:
- To discharge or be discharged in a volley: To fire or launch a large number of things simultaneously.
- To utter or emit in a rapid, continuous burst: To deliver a series of words or sounds quickly and forcefully.
- (Sports) To hit or kick (a ball) before it touches the ground: To make a volley shot in sports.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The soldiers fired a volley of shots. (A simultaneous discharge of firearms.)
- She answered with a volley of questions. (A rapid series of questions.)
- He scored with a perfect volley from the edge of the box. (A soccer shot struck before the ball bounced.)
Verb:
- The cannons volleyed throughout the night. (Discharged repeatedly and simultaneously.)
- The critic volleyed insults at the performer. (Uttered insults rapidly.)
- The tennis player volleyed the ball expertly at the net. (Hit the ball before it bounced.)
Advanced Usage
"A volley of criticism": A sudden, forceful outpouring of critical remarks.
- The new policy faced a volley of criticism from the public.
"To trade volleys": To engage in a rapid exchange, often of words or shots.
- The debaters traded volleys for over an hour.
Variants and Related Words
- Volleyer (n): A player who frequently or skillfully makes volleys, especially in tennis.
- Volleying (n/adj): The act of making a volley or related to volleys.
Synonyms
- Noun: Salvo, burst, barrage, fusillade, shower.
- Verb: Discharge, fire, unleash, rain, shower.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
(Note: "Volley" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its verbal use is typically transitive or intransitive as shown above.)
Related Idioms
- "Return/answer fire with a volley": To respond to an attack with an equally forceful or rapid counterattack, either literal or figurative.
- When accused of corruption, the senator returned fire with a volley of counter-accusations.
Noun
- a tennis return made by hitting the ball before it bounces
- rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms
- our fusillade from the left flank caught them by surprise
Verb
- utter rapidly
- volley a string of curses
- make a volley
- discharge in, or as if in, a volley
- the attackers volleyed gunshots at the civilians
- hit before it touches the ground
- volley the tennis ball
- be dispersed in a volley
- gun shots volleyed at the attackers