Belaying is the process of holding the end of a climbing rope to catch a climber should they fall. A belay is the stance used when belaying. Belaying requires techniques and equipment to feed (or take in when top roping) the rope to the ascending climber, catch a climber should they fall and lower a climber from the top of a climb. Use this tag for questions that discuss the various methods for belaying, belaying devices being used or belaying techniques.
Belay has two meanings in climbing. A person can belay another climber or they can use a belay at a stance to support themselves while they belay a second. When building a belay the whole setup is called a belay, this included the equipment used (a belay plate for example), the ropes and the area where the person is standing/sitting. Both words are spelt and pronounced the same.
When you belay another climber, this is the process of holding the end of a climbing rope to catch a climber should they fall.
When you are using a belay it is the stance used when belaying.
Belaying requires techniques and equipment to feed (or take in when top roping) the rope to the ascending climber, catch a climber should they fall and lower a climber from the top of a climb.
Use this tag for questions that discuss the various methods for belaying, belaying devices being used or belaying techniques, etc.
