ray

Compared meaning: a line of light (noun).

比较义项：光线（名词）。

• beam

  Beam suggests a solid, well-defined shaft of light, often from an artificial or directed source such as a flashlight, headlights, a lighthouse, or a laser; it collocates with beam of light, laser beam, sunbeam.

  beam（光束）指一束完整、边界清晰的光，常来自定向或人造光源（手电筒、车灯、灯塔、激光），常见搭配有 beam of light、laser beam、sunbeam。

  The lighthouse beam swept slowly across the dark water every few seconds.

  灯塔的光束每隔几秒就缓缓扫过漆黑的海面。

• ray 本词

  Ray suggests a single narrow, thin line of light, often used for natural light such as sunlight or moonlight breaking through a gap; it also extends to invisible radiation, as in X-ray or ultraviolet ray, unlike beam.

  ray（光线）指一条细而窄的光，常用于阳光、月光等从缝隙中透出的自然光；它还可以指看不见的辐射，如 X 光、紫外线，这一点 beam 没有。

  A single ray of light pierced the darkness of the old cave.

  一缕光线穿透了那座古老洞穴的黑暗。

Beam and ray both mean a line of light. Beam suggests a solid shaft of light, like a flashlight, headlights, or a laser. Ray suggests a thin line of light, often sunlight through a gap, and can also mean invisible radiation, like an X-ray.

beam 和 ray 都可以指“一道光线”，语境相近，但 beam 强调光柱完整、边界清晰，多用于手电筒、车灯、灯塔或激光等定向光源；ray 强调细窄的一条光线，常用于阳光透过缝隙的自然光，也可以指看不见的辐射，如 X 光、紫外线，这一点 beam 不具备。