laxness
laxness

lay


Definition: Meaning of, lay in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / leɪ /

  • verb
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
lay laid laid
Present Participle Third Person Singular
laying lays
  1. the past tense of LIE 1
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  2. put somebody/something down [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to put someone or something down carefully into a flat position [=  place]
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  3. lay bricks/carpet/concrete/cables etc to put or fasten bricks, a CARPET etc in the correct place, especially on the ground or floor
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  4. bird/insect etc [intransitive and transitive] if a bird, insect etc lays eggs, it produces them from its body
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  5. table [transitive] British English to put the cloth, plates, knives, forks etc on a table, ready for a meal [=  set]
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  6. lay the foundations/groundwork/base to provide the conditions that will make it possible for something to happen or be successful
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  7. give information [transitive] formal to make a statement, give information etc in an official or public way [=  put]
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  8. lay emphasis/stress on something formal to emphasize something because you believe it is very important
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  9. lay a hand/finger on somebody [usually in negatives] to touch someone with the intention of hurting them
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  10. lay bare/open something also lay something bare/open to show what something is really like, or stop hiding facts, feelings etc
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  11. lay bare/open something also lay something bare/open to remove the thing that is covering or hiding something else
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  12. lay somebody/something open to something to do something that makes it possible for other people to blame you, criticize you etc
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  13. lay waste something also lay waste to something formal to destroy or damage something, especially in a war
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  14. lay plans/a trap etc to carefully prepare all the details of something
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  15. lay claim to (doing) something to say that something belongs to you or say that you deserve something
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  16. lay siege to somebody/something if a group of people lay siege to a place, they try to get control by surrounding it
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  17. lay siege to somebody/something to do everything you can to get someone to talk to you or notice you
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  18. have sex get laid [transitive] informal to have sex with someone
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  19. lie [intransitive] spoken to be in a position in which you are flat - some people consider this use to be incorrect [=  lie]
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  20. risk money [transitive] especially British English to risk an amount of money on the result of a race, sports game etc [=  bet]
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  21. lay somebody/something on the line to state something, especially a threat, demand, or criticism, in a very clear way
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  22. lay somebody/something on the line also put somebody/something on the line to risk losing your life, your job etc, especially in order to help someone
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  23. lay something at the door of somebody/something also lay something at somebody's door to blame something or someone for something
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  24. lay somebody low [usually passive] if an illness lays someone low, they are unable to do their normal activities for a period of time
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  25. lay somebody low literary to make someone fall down, or injure them seriously
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  26. lay somebody to rest formal to bury someone after they have died
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  27. lay the ghost (of something) to finally stop being worried or upset by something from the past
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  • adjective
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Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
N/A N/A N/A
[only before noun]
  1. not trained or not knowing much about a particular profession or subject [↪  layman]
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  2. not in an official position in the church
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  • noun
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Word Forms:
Singular Plural
lay lays
[countable]
  1. the lay of the land the situation that exists at a particular time
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  2. the lay of the land the appearance of an area of land, for example the way it slopes
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  3. the lay of something the appearance of something and where each part of it is
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  4. be a good/quick/easy etc lay informal to be a good, quick etc person to have sex with
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  5. literary a poem or song
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lay used in phrases

  • easy lay (noun)
    1. street name for gamma hydroxybutyrate
  • lay away (verb)
    1. save up as for future use
  • lay bare (verb)
    1. make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret
  • lay claim (verb)
    1. demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to
  • lay eyes on (verb)
    1. see with attention
  • lay figure (noun)
    1. dummy in the form of an artist's jointed model of the human body
  • lay hands on (verb)
    1. manage with the hands
  • lay on the line (verb)
    1. expose to a chance of loss or damage
  • lay over (verb)
    1. interrupt a journey temporarily, e.g., overnight
    2. place on top of
  • lay reader (noun)
    1. someone in Christian churches who is not a priest but who has been given authority to lead a religious service
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lay used in phrasal verbs

  • lay about (phrasal verb)
    1. lay about someone to attack someone by hitting them
  • lay aside (phrasal verb)
    1. lay aside or lay by to keep or save something, especially money, so that you can use it in the future
    2. to not let yourself think about or be influenced by something so that you can achieve an aim
  • lay before (phrasal verb)
    1. lay something before someone to offer something to someone to study, discuss, approve etc
  • lay down (phrasal verb)
    1. [transitive] to put something down in order to show you are not going to use it again, for example a weapon or tool
    2. [transitive] to state officially what someone must do or how they must do it
  • lay in (phrasal verb)
    1. to get and keep a supply of something such as food to use in the future
  • lay into (phrasal verb)
    1. lay into someone to attack someone physically or with cruel words because you are angry with them
  • lay off (phrasal verb)
    1. [transitive] to end someone’s employment, especially temporarily, because there is not enough work for them
    2. [intransitive/transitive] lay off something informal to stop doing or using something, especially for a short period of time
  • lay on (phrasal verb)
    1. British English to provide something such as food, entertainment, or a service, especially without charging for it
    2. lay something on someone informal to tell or show something to someone, especially when you do not expect them to like it
  • lay out (phrasal verb)
    1. to spread something out, or to arrange things so you can see them easily
    2. to explain something carefully and clearly
  • lay to (phrasal verb)
    1. lay something to if you lay a ship to, or if it lays to, it stops
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word of the day

like thunder
Pronunciation: lʌɪk ˈθʌndə
Parts of Speech: adverb
with great speed, effort or intensity
lay about