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lay
1[ley]
verb (used with object)
to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down.
to lay a book on a desk.
Synonyms: depositto knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground.
One punch laid him low.
to put or place in a particular position.
The dog laid its ears back.
to cause to be in a particular state or condition.
Their motives were laid bare.
to set, place, or apply (often followed by to oron ).
to lay hands on a child.
to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion.
to lay bricks.
to place on, along, or under a surface.
to lay a pipeline.
to establish as a basis; set up.
to lay the foundations for further negotiations.
to present or submit for notice or consideration.
I laid my case before the commission.
to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge.
to impute, attribute, or ascribe.
to lay blame on the inspector.
to bury.
They laid him in the old churchyard.
to bring forth and deposit (an egg or eggs).
to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like.
to lay an embargo on oil shipments.
to place dinner service on (a table); set.
to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else.
to devise or arrange, as a plan.
to deposit as a wager; bet.
He laid $10 on the horse that won the third race.
to set (a trap).
to place, set, or locate.
The scene is laid in France.
to smooth down or make even.
to lay the nap of cloth.
to cause to subside.
laying the clouds of dust with a spray of water.
Slang: Vulgar., to have sexual intercourse with.
to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment.
to form by twisting strands together, as a rope.
Nautical., to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction.
to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation.
to put (dogs) on a scent.
verb (used without object)
to lay eggs.
to wager or bet.
to apply oneself vigorously.
to deal or aim blows vigorously (usually followed by on, at, about, etc.).
Nonstandard., lie.
South Midland U.S., to plan or scheme (often followed byout ).
Midland and Southern U.S., (of the wind) to diminish; subside.
When the wind lays, it'll rain.
Nautical., to take up a specified position, direction, etc..
to lay aloft; to lay close to the wind.
noun
the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies.
the lay of the land.
Slang: Vulgar.
a partner in sexual intercourse.
an instance of sexual intercourse.
Ropemaking., the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands.
Also called spread. Also called lay-up,. (in the garment industry) multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting.
Textiles., batten.
a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew.
verb phrase
lay out
to extend at length.
to ready (a corpse) for burial.
Informal., to spend or contribute (money).
Slang., to knock (someone) down or unconscious.
Slang., to scold vehemently; reprimand.
Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.
to make a layout of.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S., to absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.
lay on
to cover with; apply.
to lay on a coat of wax.
to strike blows; attack violently.
When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.
Nautical., to sail toward.
Nautical., to row (an oar) with a full stroke.
Slang., to tell, impart, or give to.
Let me lay a little good advice on you.
Chiefly British Informal., to provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat.
The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.
lay back, to relax.
lay open
to cut open.
to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.
to expose; reveal.
Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.
to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism.
He was careful not to lay himself open to charges of partiality.
lay over
to be postponed until action may be taken.
The vote will have to be laid over until next week.
to make a stop, as during a trip.
We will have to lay over in Lyons on our way to the Riviera.
lay for, to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for.
The police are laying for him.
lay aside
to abandon or put to one side.
to save for use at a later time; store.
to lay aside some money every month.
lay off
to dismiss (an employee), especially temporarily because of slack business.
Informal., to cease or quit.
He promised to lay off drinking.
Slang., to stop annoying or teasing.
Lay off me, will you?
Informal., to stop work.
They laid off at four and went home.
to put aside or take off.
Slang., to give or hand over; pass on.
They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center.
(of a bookmaker) to transfer all or part of (a wager) to other bookmakers in order to be protected against heavy losses.
to get rid of or transfer (blame, responsibility, etc.).
He tried to lay off the guilt for the crime on his son.
Nautical., to sail away from.
Nautical., to remain stationary at a distance from.
Shipbuilding., lay.
lay in, to store away for future use.
We laid in a supply of canned goods.
lay up
to put away for future use; store up.
to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable.
Nautical., to retire (a ship) from active use.
Nautical., (of a ship) to be retired from active use.
to construct (a masonry structure).
The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.
to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material.
lay by
to put away for future use; store; save.
She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.
Nautical., (of a sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.
Midland and Southern U.S., to tend (a crop) for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.
lay to
Nautical., to check the motion of (a ship).
Nautical., to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.
to attack vigorously.
to put forth effort; apply oneself.
lay down
to give up; yield.
to lay down one's arms.
to assert firmly; state authoritatively.
to lay down rigid rules of conduct.
to stock; store.
to lay down wine.
to produce or execute (something) successfully; throw down.
In the top of the thirteenth inning, Jones laid down a perfect bunt.
Shipbuilding., to draw at full size (the lines of a hull), as on the floor of a mold loft; lay off; loft.
lay into, to attack physically or verbally; assail.
He laid into the opposition with fiery words.
lay away
to reserve for later use; save.
to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery.
to lay away a winter coat.
to bury.
They laid him away in the tomb.
lay
2[ley]
verb
simple past tense of lie.
lay
3[ley]
adjective
belonging to, pertaining to, or performed by the people or laity, as distinguished from the clergy.
a lay sermon.
not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, especially the law or medicine.
lay
4[ley]
noun
a short narrative or other poem, especially one to be sung.
a song.
lay
5[ley]
noun
(on a loom) a movable frame that contains the shuttles, the race plate, and the reed, and that by its oscillating motion beats the filling yarn into place.
any movable part of a loom.
lay
1/ leɪ /
verb
to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie
to lay a cover on a bed
to place, put, or be in a particular state or position
he laid his finger on his lips
not_standard, (intr) to be in a horizontal position; lie
he often lays in bed all the morning
(sometimes foll by down) to establish as a basis
to lay a foundation for discussion
to place or dispose in the proper position
to lay a carpet
to arrange (a table) for eating a meal
to prepare (a fire) for lighting by arranging fuel in the grate
(also intr) (of birds, esp the domestic hen) to produce (eggs)
to present or put forward
he laid his case before the magistrate
to impute or attribute
all the blame was laid on him
to arrange, devise, or prepare
to lay a trap
to place, set, or locate
the scene is laid in London
to apply on or as if on a surface
to lay a coat of paint
to impose as a penalty or burden
to lay a fine
to make (a bet) with (someone)
I lay you five to one on Prince
to cause to settle
to lay the dust
to allay; suppress
to lay a rumour
to bring down forcefully
to lay a whip on someone's back
slang, to have sexual intercourse with
slang, to bet on (a horse) to lose a race
to press down or make smooth
to lay the nap of cloth
to cut (small trunks or branches of shrubs or trees) halfway through and bend them diagonally to form a hedge
to lay a hedge
to arrange and twist together (strands) in order to form (a rope, cable, etc)
military to apply settings of elevation and training to (a weapon) prior to firing
(foll by on) hunting to put (hounds or other dogs) onto a scent
another word for inlay
dialect, (intr; often foll by to or out) to plan, scheme, or devise
(intr) nautical to move or go, esp into a specified position or direction
to lay close to the wind
nautical (formerly) to move alongside a warship to board it
nautical to sail on a planned course without tacking
to plan an action
to reveal or explain
he laid bare his plans
See hands
to seize or grasp
to make oneself vulnerable (to criticism, attack, etc)
by making such a statement he laid himself open to accusations of favouritism
to reveal or disclose
to besiege (a city, etc)
noun
the manner or position in which something lies or is placed
taboo
an act of sexual intercourse
a sexual partner
a portion of the catch or the profits from a whaling or fishing expedition
the amount or direction of hoist in the strands of a rope
lay
2/ leɪ /
adjective
of, involving, or belonging to people who are not clergy
nonprofessional or nonspecialist; amateur
lay
3/ leɪ /
noun
a ballad or short narrative poem, esp one intended to be sung
a song or melody
lay
4/ leɪ /
verb
the past tense of lie 2
Usage
Confusables Note
Word History and Origins
Origin of lay1
Origin of lay2
Origin of lay3
Word History and Origins
Origin of lay1
Origin of lay2
Origin of lay3
Idioms and Phrases
lay low. low.
get laid, to have sexual intercourse.
lay close, (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind.
lay siege to. siege.
lay about one,
to strike or aim blows in every direction.
to proceed to do; set about.
lay aboard, (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.
lay it on, to exaggerate in one's speech or actions, especially to engage in exaggerated flattery or reproof: Also lay it on thick.
She was glad to be told what a splendid person she was, but they didn't have to lay it on so much.
lay oneself out, to try one's best; make a great effort.
They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success.
lay a course,
Nautical. to sail in the desired direction without tacking.
to proceed according to a plan.
More idioms and phrases containing lay
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
In his conference speech on Friday, Nigel Farage also pledged to cut welfare spending, but did not lay out any specifics about which benefits would be targeted and by how much,
She will be remembered for that hug with Novotná, her dignity and quiet compassion, and as a reluctant royal, who eventually decided that her true path lay in teaching children to love music.
Soldiers are seen picking up trash, laying down mulch and chatting aimlessly as they patrol.
First, the Constitution says Congress, not the president, has the power “to lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises,” and a tariff is an import tax.
While the pool area with its hot tub, sauna and thoughtful landscaping is pure desert luxury, the rest of the hotel consists of 65 rectangular-shaped, free-standing rooms laid out in neat rows.
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When To Use
Lay commonly means to put or place someone or something down, as in Lay the bags on the table or I’m going to lay the baby in the crib. The sense of lie that’s often confused with lay means to be in or get into a reclining position—to recline, as in I just want to lie in bed for a few more minutes.Though it’s considered nonstandard, lay is commonly used to mean the same thing as this sense of lie, as in I just want to lay in bed for a few more minutes.The confusion between the two words is largely due to the fact that lay is also the past tense form of this sense of lie, as in I lay in bed yesterday morning wishing I could go back to sleep. The other tenses of this sense of lie are lain, as in I have lain in bed for the past three hours, and lying, as in I am lying in bed right now. (In contrast, when lie is used as a verb meaning to tell an untruth, its past tense is simply lied.)The other tenses of lay are laid, as in I laid the bags on the table, and laying, as in Start laying the fruit here and the vegetables there.Lay is typically used with an object, meaning someone or something is getting laid down by someone. In contrast, lie is something you do yourself without any other recipients of the action.This sense of lie is commonly used in the verb phrase lie down, as in I was feeling tired so I decided to lie down. Using the phrase lay down to mean the same thing is considered nonstandard, but it’s also very common.Lay down is also used as a verb phrase meaning about the same thing as lay, as in You can lay down your bags on the table (or You can lay your bags down on the table).Although lay and lie are often used interchangeably in casual communication, it’s best to use them in the standard way in more formal contexts.A good way to remember which one to use is to think about whether you could replace the word with put or recline. If you can replace it with put, you probably want to use lay, as in Please lay (put) the bags on the table. If you could replace the word with recline, you probably want to use lie, as in I just want to lie (recline) in bed for a few more minutes.Here’s an example of lay and lie used correctly in the same sentence.Example: He said he was just going to lay the blanket on the grass and lie on it for a few minutes, but he lied. After he laid the blanket down, he lay on it for two hours!Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between lay and lie.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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