lay1

Syllabification: (lay)

Pronunciation: /lā/

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Definition of lay

verb (past and past participle laid /lād/)

1 [with object] put down, especially gently or carefully:she laid the baby in his crib
prevent (something) from rising off the ground:there may have been the odd light shower just to lay the dust

2 [with object] put down and set in position for use:it is advisable to have your carpet laid by a professional figurativethe groundwork for change had been laid
set cutlery, crockery, and mats on (a table) in preparation for a meal:she laid the table for the evening meal
(often be laid with) cover (a surface) with objects or a substance:the floor was laid with tiles
make ready (a trap) for someone:she wouldn’t put it past him to lay a trap for her
put the material for (a fire) in place and arrange it.
work out (an idea or suggestion) in detail ready for use or presentation:I’d like more time to lay my plans
(lay something before) present information or suggestions to be considered and acted upon by (someone):he laid before the House proposals for the establishment of the committee
(usually be laid) locate (an episode in a play, novel, etc.) in a certain place:no one who knew the area could be in doubt where the scene was laid
Nautical follow (a specified course).
[no object] Nautical go or come:they had to lay aloft
[with object] stake (an amount of money) in a wager:she suspected he was pulling her leg, but she wouldn’t have laid money on it

3 [with object] used with an abstract noun so that the phrase formed has the same meaning as the verb related to the noun used, e.g., “lay the blame on” means ‘to blame’:she laid great stress on little courtesies

4 [with object] (of a female bird, insect, reptile, or amphibian) produce (an egg) from inside the body:flamingos lay only one egg [no object]:the hens were laying at the same rate as usual

5 [with object] vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

noun

1 [in singular] the general appearance of an area, including the direction of streams, hills, and similar features:the lay of the surrounding countryside
the position or direction in which something lies:roll the carpet against the lay of the nap
the direction or amount of twist in rope strands.

2 vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
[with adjective] a person with a particular ability or availability as a sexual partner.

3the laying of eggs or the period during which they are laid.

Phrases

lay something at someone's door: see door.
lay something bare: bring something out of concealment; expose something:the sad tale of failure was laid bare
lay a charge: make an accusation:we could lay a charge of gross negligence
lay claim to something: assert that one has a right to something:four men laid claim to the leadership; assert that one possesses a skill or quality:she has never laid claim to medical knowledge
lay down one's arms (or weapons): cease fighting:they renounced violence and laid down their arms
lay down the law: see law.
lay down one's life: sacrifice one’s life for a cause:he laid down his life for his country
lay eyes on: see eye.
lay a (or the) ghost: exorcise a ghost.; get rid of a distressing, frightening, or worrying memory or thought:we need to lay the ghost of the past and move ahead
lay hands on
lay (or put) one's hands on: find and acquire:I would read every book I could lay my hands on
lay hold of (or on): catch or gain possession of:he was afraid she might vanish if he did not lay hold of her
lay it on the line: see line¹.
the lay (Britishlie) of the land: the way in which the features or characteristics of an area present themselves.; the current situation or state of affairs:she was beginning to see the lay of the land with her in-laws
lay someone low: (of an illness) reduce someone to inactivity.; bring to an end the high position or good fortune formerly enjoyed by someone:she reflected on how quickly fate can lay a person low
lay something on the table: see table.
lay something on thick (or with a trowel): informal grossly exaggerate or overemphasize something.
lay someone open to: expose someone to the risk of (something):his position could lay him open to accusations of favoritism
lay over: break one’s journey:Steven and I will lay over in New York, then fly to London
lay siege to: see siege.
lay store by: see store.
lay someone/something to rest: bury a body in a grave.; soothe and dispel fear, anxiety, grief, or a similar unpleasant emotion:suspicion will be laid to rest by fact rather than hearsay
lay something (to) waste: see waste.

Phrasal Verbs

lay about (someone): beat or attack (someone) violently:they weren’t against laying about you with sticks and stones; strike out wildly on all sides:the mare laid about her with her front legs and teeth
lay something aside: put something to one side:he laid aside his book figurativethe situation gave them a good reason to lay aside their differences; reserve money for the future or for a particular cause:he begged them to lay something aside toward the cause
lay something down
lay something in/up: build up a stock of something in case of need.
lay into: informal attack violently with words or blows:three youths laid into him
lay off: informal give up or stop doing something:I laid off smoking for seven years
lay someone off: discharge a worker, especially temporarily because of a shortage of work.
lay something on: informal require (someone) to endure or deal with a responsibility or difficulty:this is an absurdly heavy guilt trip to lay on anyone
lay someone out
lay something out
lay up: Golf hit the ball deliberately to a lesser distance than possible, typically in order to avoid a hazard.
lay someone up: put someone out of action through illness or injury:he was laid up with his familiar fever
lay something up

Origin:

Old English lecgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leggen and German legen, also to lie¹

The verb lay means, broadly, ‘put something down’: they are going to lay the carpet. The past tense and the past participle of lay is laid: they laid the groundwork; she had laid careful plans. The verb lie, on the other hand, means ‘assume a horizontal or resting position’: why don’t you lie on the floor? The past tense of lie is lay: he lay on the floor earlier in the day. The past participle of lie is lain: she had lain on the bed for hours. In practice, many speakers inadvertently get the lay forms and the lie forms into a tangle of right and wrong usage. Here are some examples of typical incorrect usage: have you been laying on the sofa all day? (should be lying); he lay the books on the table (should be laid); I had laid in this position so long, my arm was stiff (should be lain). See also lie¹ (usage).

lay in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of lay in the British & World English dictionary

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verb (past and past participle laid /lād/)

noun

Phrases

lay something at someone's door

lay something bare

lay a charge

lay claim to something

lay down one's arms (or weapons)

lay down the law

lay down one's life

lay eyes on

lay a (or the) ghost

lay hands on

lay (or put) one's hands on

lay hold of (or on)

lay it on the line

the lay (Britishlie) of the land

lay someone low

lay something on the table

lay something on thick (or with a trowel)

lay someone open to

lay over

lay siege to

lay store by

lay someone/something to rest

lay something (to) waste

Phrasal Verbs

lay about (someone)

lay something aside

lay something down

lay something in/up

lay into

lay off

lay someone off

lay something on

lay someone out

lay something out

lay up

lay someone up

lay something up

Origin:

lay in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

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