lay: Meaning and Definition of

lay

Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
— v., n. laid, lay•ing,
—v.t.
  1. to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
  2. to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low.
  3. to put or place in a particular position: The dog laid its ears back.
  4. to cause to be in a particular state or condition: Their motives were laid bare.
  5. to set, place, or apply (often fol. by to or on): to lay hands on a child.
  6. to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion: to lay bricks.
  7. to place on, along, or under a surface: to lay a pipeline.
  8. to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations.
  9. to present or submit for notice or consideration: I laid my case before the commission.
  10. to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge.
  11. to impute, attribute, or ascribe: to lay blame on the inspector.
  12. to bury: They laid him in the old churchyard.
  13. to bring forth and deposit (an egg or eggs).
  14. to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like: to lay an embargo on oil shipments.
  15. to place dinner service on (a table); set.
  16. to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else.
  17. to devise or arrange, as a plan.
  18. to deposit as a wager; bet: He laid $10 on the horse.
  19. to set (a trap).
  20. to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France.
  21. to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth.
  22. to cause to subside: laying the clouds of dust with a spray of water.
  23. to have sexual intercourse with.
  24. to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment.
  25. to form by twisting strands together, as a rope.
  26. to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction.
  27. to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation.
  28. to put (dogs) on a scent.
—v.i.
  1. to lay eggs.
  2. to wager or bet.
  3. to apply oneself vigorously.
  4. to deal or aim blows vigorously (usually fol. by on, at, about, etc.).
  5. lie.
  6. to plan or scheme (often fol. by out).
  7. (of the wind) to diminish; subside: When the wind lays, it'll rain.
  8. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay aloft; to lay close to the wind.
  9. . to have sexual intercourse.
  10. (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.
    1. to strike or aim blows in every direction.
    2. to proceed to do; set about.
    1. Naut.to sail in the desired direction without tacking.
    2. to proceed according to a plan.
  11. to lay aside some money every month.
    1. to abandon; reject.
    2. to save for use at a later time; store:to lay aside some money every month.
  12. to lay away a winter coat.
    1. to reserve for later use; save.
    2. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery:to lay away a winter coat.
    3. to bury:They laid him away in the tomb.
  13. to relax.
  14. She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.
    1. to put away for future use; store; save:She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.
    2. Naut.(of a sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.
    3. Midland and Southern U.S.to tend (a crop) for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.
  15. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind.
  16. to lay down one's arms.
    1. to give up; yield:to lay down one's arms.
    2. to assert firmly; state authoritatively:to lay down rigid rules of conduct.
    3. to stock; store:to lay down wine.
    4. Shipbuilding.to draw at full size (the lines of a hull), as on the floor of a mold loft; lay off; loft.
  17. to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him.
  18. to store away for future use: We laid in a supply of canned goods.
  19. to attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words.
  20. to exaggerate in one's speech or actions, esp. to engage in exaggerated flattery or reproof: She was glad to be told what a splendid person she was, but they didn't have to lay it on so much.
  21. See (defs. 44, 45).
  22. He promised to lay off drinking.
    1. to dismiss (an employee), esp. temporarily because of slack business.
    2. Informal.to cease or quit:He promised to lay off drinking.
    3. Slang.to stop annoying or teasing:Lay off me, will you?
    4. Informal.to stop work:They laid off at four and went home.
    5. to put aside or take off.
    6. to mark off; measure; plot.
    7. Slang.to give or hand over; pass on:They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center.
    8. (of a bookmaker) to transfer all or part of (a wager) to other bookmakers in order to be protected against heavy losses.
    9. to get rid of or transfer (blame, responsibility, etc.):He tried to lay off the guilt for the crime on his son.
    10. Naut.to sail away from.
    11. Naut.to remain stationary at a distance from.
    12. Shipbuilding.Seelay1 (def. 46d).
  23. to lay on a coat of wax.
    1. to cover with; apply:to lay on a coat of wax.
    2. to strike blows; attack violently:When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.
    3. Naut.to sail toward.
    4. Naut.to row (an oar) with a full stroke.
    5. Slang.to tell, impart, or give to:Let me lay a little good advice on you.
    6. Chiefly Brit. Informal.to provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat:The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.
  24. to try one's best; make a great effort: They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success.
  25. to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.
    1. to cut open:to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.
    2. to expose; reveal:Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.
    3. to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism:He was careful not to lay himself open to charges of partiality.
  26. Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.
    1. to extend at length.
    2. to spread out in order; arrange; prepare.
    3. to plan; plot; design.
    4. to ready (a corpse) for burial.
    5. Informal.to spend or contribute (money).
    6. Slang.to knock (someone) down or unconscious.
    7. Slang.to scold vehemently; reprimand:Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.
    8. to make a layout of.
    9. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.to absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.
  27. The vote will have to be laid over until next week.
    1. to be postponed until action may be taken:The vote will have to be laid over until next week.
    2. to make a stop, as during a trip:We will have to lay over in Lyons on our way to the Riviera.
  28. See(def. 8).
    1. Naut.to check the motion of (a ship).
    2. Naut.to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.
    3. to attack vigorously.
    4. to put forth effort; apply oneself.
  29. The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.
    1. to put away for future use; store up.
    2. to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable.
    3. Naut.to retire (a ship) from active use.
    4. Naut.(of a ship) to be retired from active use.
    5. to construct (a masonry structure):The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.
    6. to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material.
—n.
  1. the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the land.
  2. .
    1. a partner in sexual intercourse.
    2. an instance of sexual intercourse.
  3. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands.
  4. Also called(in the garment industry) multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting.
  5. batten (defs. 1, 2).
  6. a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew.

lay

Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
— v.
  1. pt. of.

lay

Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
— adj.
  1. belonging to, pertaining to, or performed by the people or laity, as distinguished from the clergy: a lay sermon.
  2. not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, esp. the law or medicine.

lay

Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
— n.
  1. a short narrative or other poem, esp. one to be sung.
  2. a song.

lay

Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
— n.
  1. (on a loom) a movable frame that contains the shuttles, the race plate, and the reed, and that by its oscillating motion beats the filling yarn into place.
  2. any movable part of a loom.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also:
  • lay (Thesaurus)