Search results
- Dictionarylay/leɪ/
verb
- 1. put (something) down gently or carefully: "she laid the baby in his cot" Similar Opposite
- 2. put down and set in position for use: "it is advisable to have your carpet laid by a professional"
noun
- 1. the general appearance of an area of land: "the lay of the surrounding countryside"
- 2. an act or instance of having sex. vulgar slang
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
The meaning of LAY is to beat or strike down with force. How to use lay in a sentence. Lay vs. Lie: Usage Guide
The verb lay means ‘to put something down carefully in a flat position’. It must have an object. It is a regular verb, but note the spelling of the past simple and -ed form: laid not layed: …
Definition of lay verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk. Synonyms: deposit. to 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:
USAGE In careful English, the verb lay is used with an object and lie without one: the soldier laid down his arms; the Queen laid a wreath; the book was lying on the table; he was lying on the floor. In informal English, lay is frequently used for lie: the book was laying on the table.
1. To cause to lie down: lay a child in its crib. 2. a. To place in or bring to a particular position: lay the cloth over the painting. b. To bury. 3. To cause to be in a particular condition: The remark laid him open to criticism. 4. To put or set down: lay new railroad track. 5. To produce and deposit: lay eggs. 6.
To lay is to set something down or put it in a horizontal position. It can also mean to position or prepare something for action — or simply to lay eggs.
[transitive] to put someone or something in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully lay somebody/something (+ adv./prep.) She laid the baby down gently on the bed. He laid a hand on my arm. The horse laid back its ears. Relatives laid wreaths on the grave. lay somebody/something + adj. The cloth should be laid flat.
to blame someone, usually when this is not fair: You always lay the blame on me! lay the table UK. B1. to put plates, knives, forks, etc on the table to prepare for a meal. See also. put/lay your cards on the table. lay the foundation(s) for/of sth. get/lay your hands on sth.
Lay the material flat on the table. see thesaurus at put 2 → lay bricks/carpet/concrete/cables etc 3 bird/insect etc [ intransitive, transitive] if a bird, insect etc lays eggs, it produces them from its body The flies lay their eggs on decaying meat.
