lay
25 ENTRIES FOUND:
- lay (verb)
- lay (noun)
- lay
- lay (adjective)
- lay–by (noun)
- lay of the land (noun)
- arm (noun)
- card (noun)
- door (noun)
- egg (noun)
- eye (noun)
- finger (noun)
- golden (adjective)
- goose (noun)
- hand (noun)
- hold (noun)
- law (noun)
- lie (verb)
- life (noun)
- line (noun)
- rest (noun)
- siege (noun)
- table (noun)
- thick (adverb)
- waste (noun)
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY
1
[+ object]
:
to place (someone or something) down gently in a flat position
— often + down
—
see also lay down (below)
-
Lay the fabric carefully on the table.
-
He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
-
She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.
-
He says that he never laid a finger/hand on her. [=that he never touched her]
-
He laid the newspaper down on the desk.
-
She laid the baby down for his nap.
2
[+ object]
a
:
to place (something) into position on or along a surface
:
to build or set (something) on or in the ground or another surface
— often + down
— often used figuratively
-
When will they lay the foundation for the addition?
-
lay tracks for the new railroad
-
lay pipe/cable/lines
-
laying bricks
-
laying down a new road/carpet
-
We are laying the groundwork/foundation [=providing conditions] for additional research.
b
chiefly US
:
to spread (something) over a surface
-
lay plaster/paint
-
lay wallpaper
3
4
[no object]
informal
:
to be in a flat position on a surface
:
lie
-
The book was laying on the table.
◊ The use of lay to mean “lie” occurs commonly in informal speech but it is regarded as an error by many people.
5
[+ object]
a
:
to beat or strike (something) down with force
-
The wheat was laid flat by the wind and rain.
b
:
to change the condition of something in a specified way
-
The mountainside has been laid bare by loggers. [=all the trees on the mountainside have been cut down by loggers]
-
He laid bare his soul. = He laid his soul bare. [=he revealed his most private thoughts and feelings]
-
He laid himself open to criticism [=he exposed himself to criticism] with his remarks.
6
of a bird, insect, etc.
:
to produce (an egg) outside of the body
:
to push (an egg) out of the body
—
see also lay an egg at 1egg
[+ object]
-
birds that typically lay only two eggs per year
[no object]
-
old chickens that no longer lay
7
[+ object]
— used like make, place, or put in various phrases
-
She has laid plans [=she has made plans] to cut the staff down to just 15 people.
-
Even the best-laid plans [=the most carefully made plans] sometimes go wrong.
-
She lays great stress/emphasis on good manners. [=she stresses/emphasizes good manners very much]
-
The author lays the blame/responsibility for the state of the environment squarely on the government. [=the author blames the government for the state of the environment]
8
[+ object]
:
to make (something) ready
:
to prepare (something)
-
lay a trap
-
lay a fire in the fireplace
-
(Brit) Places were laid (at the table) for three people. [=silverware, glasses, and napkins were put on the table for three people who will be eating there]
-
(Brit) lay [=set] the table for a meal
9
[+ object]
informal
:
to risk losing (money) if your guess about what will happen is wrong
:
bet
-
lay money on a race
10
[+ object]
informal + offensive
:
to have sex with someone
— usually used in the phrase get laid
-
All he cares about is getting laid. [=having sex]
lay aside
[phrasal verb]
1
lay (something) aside
or
lay aside (something)
:
to place (something) to one side
— often used figuratively
-
She laid aside [=put aside, set aside] the book she had been reading and turned on the TV.
-
Plans for a new school have been laid aside [=put aside, set aside] for now until more money can be raised.
-
It's time for all of us to lay aside old prejudices.
-
We need to lay our differences aside so that we can learn to work together.
2
:
to keep (something) for special or future use
:
to reserve or save (something)
-
She has been able to lay aside [=put aside] a few dollars each week.
lay by
[phrasal verb]
lay (something) by
or
lay by (something)
:
to keep (something) for special or future use
-
She has been able to lay by [=lay aside] a few dollars each week.
lay charges
British
:
to accuse someone officially of doing something illegal
-
Police are deciding whether to lay charges (against her).
lay claim to
lay down
[phrasal verb]
1
lay (something) down
or
lay down (something)
a
:
to clearly state (a rule, standard, guideline, etc.)
-
The company has laid down strict new safety standards.
b
:
to stop using (something)
-
At noon, we laid down the rakes and rested for a while.
-
The strikers laid down their tools.
2
lay (a weapon) down
or
lay down (a weapon)
:
to put (a weapon) down and stop fighting
-
The police ordered the criminals to lay down their weapons.
3
lay down your life
formal
:
to give up your life for a good purpose
:
to die for a good cause
-
heroes who laid down their lives to preserve our nation
4
lay down the law
:
to make a strong statement about what someone is or is not allowed to do
—
see also 1lay 1 (above)
-
The agreement lays down the law (to everyone) on what the group allows.
-
When she came home after midnight, her father laid down the law: if she came home that late again, she would not be allowed to watch TV for a week.
lay eyes on
lay hold of
lay in
[phrasal verb]
lay (something) in
or
lay in (something)
:
to get and store (a supply of something) for future use
-
They laid in [=laid up] canned goods for the winter.
lay into
[phrasal verb]
lay into (someone or something)
informal
:
to angrily attack or criticize (someone or something)
-
The coach really laid into us for playing so carelessly.
lay it on the line
lay off
[phrasal verb]
1
lay (someone) off
or
lay off (someone)
:
to stop employing (someone) because there is not enough work
—
see also layoff
-
The company has had to lay off most of the staff.
-
Costs have increased and many workers have been laid off. [=let go]
2
lay off (something)
informal
:
to stop doing, using, eating, or drinking (something)
-
You should lay off the late nights. [=you should stop staying up so late]
-
My doctor advised me to lay off caffeine.
-
He's a much nicer person since he laid off the booze. [=since he stopped drinking alcohol]
-
I need to lay off fatty foods and lose some weight.
3
lay off
or
lay off (someone)
informal
:
to leave someone alone
:
to stop annoying someone
-
I wish you'd just lay off!
-
Lay off me! [=stop bothering me]
lay on
[phrasal verb]
1
lay (something) on
or
lay on (something)
a
:
to spread (something) over a surface
— often used figuratively
-
Try to lay the grout on the surface evenly.
-
(informal) My parents have been laying a lot of guilt on me. [=have been saying things that make me feel guilty]
-
(informal) If you have something to tell me, just lay it on me. [=just tell me]
-
He laid the flattery on pretty heavily.
-
She laid on a fake southern accent. [=she spoke with a southern accent although she doesn't usually speak that way]
b
British
:
to provide (something) for someone
-
If a lot of people want to come, more coaches will be laid on for them.
2
lay it on (thick)
informal
:
to speak in a way that is exaggerated and not sincere
-
You should compliment her cooking but don't lay it on too thick or she'll know you don't mean it.
-
He laid it on pretty heavily and pretended to be interested in what she said.
lay out
[phrasal verb]
1
lay (something) out
or
lay out (something)
a
:
to place (something) on a surface in a carefully arranged way
-
The wires were laid out along the floor.
-
Brochures were laid out on a table.
-
She was laying out the cheese and crackers for the guests.
b
:
to arrange (something) in a particular pattern or design
—
see also layout
-
The garden was laid out in a formal pattern.
-
Much of Manhattan is laid out in the form of a grid.
c
:
to plan the details of (something)
-
She's been hired to lay out [=map out] the election campaign.
-
The work for tomorrow is all laid out.
d
:
to explain the details of (something)
-
He laid out the reasons for his decision.
e
informal
:
to spend (money)
—
see also outlay
-
The city laid out millions of dollars for the new stadium.
2
lay (someone's body) out
or
lay out (someone's body)
:
to prepare (someone's dead body) so that it can be seen by family and friends before it is buried
-
They laid him out in a plain coffin.
3
lay (someone) out
or
lay out (someone)
informal
:
to make (someone) unconscious
:
to knock (someone) out
-
He laid his opponent out with a hard right to the jaw.
lay over
[phrasal verb] US
1
:
to make a stop in the middle of a journey
-
Our flight to Italy laid over in Madrid for several hours.
2
lay (someone) over
:
to cause (someone) to stop in the middle of a journey
— usually used as (be) laid over
—
see also layover
-
We were laid over in Madrid for several hours.
lay siege to
lay (someone) to rest
lay to rest (something)
or lay (something) to restlay up
[phrasal verb]
1
lay (something) up
or
lay up (something)
a
old-fashioned
:
to store (something)
-
lay up [=lay in] grain for the winter
b
:
to take (something) out of active use or service
-
We laid up the boat for the winter.
2
lay (someone) up
or
lay up (someone)
:
to cause (someone) to stay at home or in bed because of illness or injury
— usually used as (be) laid up
-
The flu laid him up for two weeks.
-
He was laid up for six weeks with a bad back.
-
He was laid up by the flu.
lay waste to
:
to cause very bad damage to (something)
-
The fire laid waste to the land. [=the fire caused great destruction to the land]
lay your hands on
the goose that lays the golden egg
2
lay
/ˈleɪ/
noun
plural
lays
2
lay
/ˈleɪ/
noun
plural
lays
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY
[count]
informal + offensive
:
a person who is being described as a sexual partner
—
see also lay of the land
-
a great lay
-
an easy lay [=a person who is very willing to have sex]
4
lay
/ˈleɪ/
adjective
4
lay
/ˈleɪ/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of LAY
always used before a noun
1
:
not trained in a certain profession
:
not having a lot of knowledge about a certain thing
-
a science magazine written for the lay public
-
lay and professional readers
2
:
belonging to a religion but not officially a priest, minister, etc.
