Laxi Dictionary

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Definition lay in British English

lay verb

verb
/leɪ/

Lay means to put something in a particular place or position: I always lay my clothes carefully on the chair when I undress.He laid the book on the desk.

Lie means to be in a particular place or position: I found the cat lying in front of the fire.He loves to lie on the beach all day.Papers were lying all over the desk.

Lay is also the past form of the verb lie: The book lay on the floor where I’d left it.

1

to put someone or something down in a careful way, especially so that they are lying flat

Example

Lay the baby on her back.

Example

He laid his coat across the arm of the chair.

Example

We lay flowers on her grave once a week.

Example

Carmen laid her head against my shoulder and fell asleep.

Synonyms and related words
put place position
1.1

to put something such as pipes, wires, or a carpet into the correct position in the ground or on the floor, so that they are ready to be used

Example

The man's coming to lay the hall carpet tomorrow.

Example

A hundred miles of new railway track have been laid.

Synonyms and related words
assemblage assembly build paint decorate paper
2

if a female animal such as a bird or fish lays an egg, it produces the egg by pushing it from its body

Synonyms and related words
broody clutch egg
3

if you lay the table or lay a place at a table, you prepare a table for a meal by putting forks, knives, spoons, dishes etc on it. The usual American word is set

Example

Will you lay the table while I get breakfast?

Example

Don't bother laying a place for me - I'm going out to dinner.

Synonyms and related words
clean up clear out clean
4

to carefully plan and prepare something that will be needed in the future to achieve an aim

Example

The project is intended to lay the groundwork for future research.

Example

The gunman realized the police had laid a trap and quickly surrendered.

Synonyms and related words
plan arrange organize
5

a way of saying 'lie', meaning to have your body in a flat position, that many people think is incorrect

Synonyms and related words
bed down collapse cross your legs
Definition lay in British English

Related Words

Words related to lay:

bird (noun) your hands on something (phrase) I’d lay on something (phrase) lay (verb) lay (adjective) lay (noun) lay () lay a guilt trip on someone (phrase) lay about (phrasal verb) lay an egg (phrase) lay aside (phrasal verb) lay before (phrasal verb) lay charges (phrase) lay claim to something (phrase) lay down (phrasal verb) lay down (your) arms (phrase) lay down your life (phrase) lay on something (phrase) lay in (phrasal verb) lay into (phrasal verb) lay it on the line (phrase) lay it on thick (phrase) lay off (phrasal verb) lay on (phrasal verb) lay out (phrasal verb) lay reader (noun) lay siege to something (phrase) lay someone low (phrase) lay someone open to something (phrase) lay someone to rest (phrase) lay flat (phrase) lay something at someone’s door (phrase) lay something bare (phrase) lay the (for something) on (phrase) lay the groundwork (for something) (phrase) lay to (phrasal verb) lay up (phrasal verb) lay-by (noun) lay-off (noun) something to rest (phrase) your cards on the table (phrase) lie (verb) lie about (phrasal verb) lie ahead (phrasal verb) lie back (phrasal verb) lie behind (phrasal verb) lie down (phrasal verb) lie in (phrasal verb) lie with (phrasal verb) not lay a finger on someone () eyes on (phrase) (great) store something (phrase) the lay of the land (phrase)