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: …
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.
to put something in especially a flat or horizontal position, usually carefully or for a particular purpose: She laid the baby on the bed. He laid the tray down on the table. lay aside She laid aside her book and went to answer the phone. We're having a new carpet laid in the hall next week.
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:
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.
[transitive] to put somebody/something in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully. lay somebody/something + adv./prep. He laid a hand on my arm. Relatives laid wreaths on the grave. She laid the baby down gently on the bed. Red roses were laid at the memorial. She noticed some paintings laid against the far wall.
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.
Definitions of 'lay' verb and noun uses. 1. If you lay something somewhere, you put it there in a careful, gentle, or neat way. [...] 2. If you lay something such as carpets, cables, or foundations, you put them into their permanent position. [...] 3. When a female bird lays, or lays an egg, it produces an egg by pushing it out of its body. [...]
To put down or place (bricks, carpeting, etc.) in the correct position or way for a specific purpose. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. To bury. American Heritage. To cause to be situated in a particular place or condition. The film's first scene is laid in France. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. More Verb Definitions (34)
