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1. Dictionary

   lay

   /leɪ/

   verb

   • 1. put (something) down gently or carefully: "she laid the baby in his cot" Similar putplacesetput downset downdepositrestsituatesitsettlestowbalancestationdropleavelet fallthrow downfling downdeploylocatepositioninformal:plantstickdumpbungparkplonkpopshoveOpposite pick up
   • ▪ prevent (something) from rising off the ground: "there may have been the odd light shower just to lay the dust"
   • 2. put down and set in position for use: "it is advisable to have your carpet laid by a professional"
   • ▪ set cutlery, crockery, etc. on (a table) in preparation for a meal: British "she laid the table for dinner"
   • ▪ cover (a surface) with objects or a substance: "the floor was laid with mattresses"
   • ▪ put the material for (a fire) in place and arrange it: "he was making newspaper knots before laying a fire in the fireplace"
   • ▪ prepare (a trap) for someone: "she wouldn't put it past him to lay a trap for her"
   • ▪ work out (an idea or suggestion) in detail ready for use or presentation: "I'd like more time to lay my plans" Similar devisearrangecontrivemakepreparework outhatchconcoctdesignplanschemeplotorganizeframethink updream upcook upbrewconceivemake readyget readyput togetherdraw upproducedevelopcomposeformulate
   • ▪ locate (an episode in a play, novel, etc.) in a particular place: "no one who knew the area could be in doubt where the scene was laid"
   • ▪ stake (an amount of money) in a bet: "she suspected he was pulling her leg, but she wouldn't have laid money on it" Similar betwagergamblestakehazardriskchanceventuregive oddsspeculategameinformal:punthave a flutter
   • 3. 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" Similar assignattributeascribeallocateallotimputeattachimposefixhold someone responsiblehold someone accountablehold someone answerablecondemnfind guilty ofpin the blame onOpposite exoneratehold blameless
   • 4. (of a female bird, insect, reptile, or amphibian) produce (an egg) from inside the body: "flamingos lay only one egg" Similar producetechnical:oviposit
   • 5. have sex with. vulgar slang
   • 6. follow (a specified course): "I'm going to lay a course for Ibiza harbour"
   • 7. trim (a hedge) back, cutting the branches half through, bending them down, and interweaving them: "most hedges are no longer laid"

   noun

   • 1. the general appearance of an area of land: "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. an act or instance of having sex. vulgar slang
   • ▪ a person with a particular ability or availability as a sexual partner.
   • 3. the laying of eggs or the period during which they are laid: "the onset of lay may be marked by a dropping of the duck's abdomen"

   Word Origin Old Englishlecgan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leggen and German legen, also to lie1.

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • Y

     4

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. People also ask

   What does lay mean in English?

   • 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: … From a lay viewpoint the questionnaire is virtually incomprehensible. good lay She's a good lay (= sex with her is enjoyable).

   LAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lay

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   What is the past tense of lay?

   • Word forms: lays , laying , laid In standard English, the form lay is also the past tense of the verb lie 1 in some meanings. In informal English, people sometimes use the word lay instead of lie 1 in those meanings. If you lay something somewhere, you put it there in a careful, gentle, or neat way. Lay a sheet of newspaper on the floor.

   LAY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/lay

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   What does it mean to lay an egg?

   • 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.

   Lay - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/lay

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   What is the difference between lay and lie?

   • usage: lay and lie are often confused. lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk.

   Lay | definition of lay by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com/lay

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLAY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   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.

   • English (US)

     LAY meaning: 1. to put something in especially a flat or...

   • Znaczenie Lay, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary

     lay definicja: 1. to put something in especially a flat or...

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › layLay Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lay

   • Cached

   1. : to beat or strike down with force. 2. a. : to put or set down. lay your books on the table. b. : to place for rest or sleep. She laid the baby in his crib for a nap. especially : bury. 3. : to bring forth and deposit (an egg) 4. : calm, allay. lay the dust. 5. : bet, wager. 6. : to press down giving a smooth and even surface.

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6. www.dictionary.com › browse › layLAY Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › lay

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning and usage of the verb lay and its past tense laid, as well as its common phrasal verbs and nouns. Find out the difference between lay and lie, and explore the slang and nautical terms related to lay.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionlay verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and grammar of the verb lay, with pictures and example sentences. Find out the difference between lay and lie, and how to use lay in various phrases and idioms.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › layLay - definition of lay by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › lay

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of the verb lay, which can mean to put, place, produce, or bet. Avoid confusing lay with lie, which means to recline or be situated.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishLAY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and grammar of the verb and noun lay, and how to use it correctly in different contexts. Find out the difference between lay and lie, and explore related expressions and phrasal verbs.

10. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › layLay - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

    www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › lay

    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.