Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
v., laid, lay•ing,

8. to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations.
15. to place dinner service on (a table); set.
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).
23. Slang (vulgar).to have sexual intercourse with.
26. move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction.
28. to put (dogs) on a scent.

1. to lay eggs.
2. to wager or bet.
3. to apply oneself vigorously.
5. Nonstandard.lie2.
6. South Midland plan or scheme (often fol. by out).
10. lay aboard, Naut.(formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.
11. lay about one,
a. to strike or aim blows in every direction.
b. to proceed to do; set about.
12. lay a course,
a. sail in the desired direction without tacking.
b. to proceed according to a plan.
13. lay aside,
a. to abandon; reject.
b. to save for use at a later time; store: to lay aside some money every month.
14. lay away,
a. to reserve for later use; save.
b. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat.
c. to bury: They laid him away in the tomb.
15. lay back, relax.
16. lay by,
b. Naut.(of a sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.
c. Midland and Southern tend (a crop) for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.
17. lay close, Naut.(of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind.
18. lay down,
a. to give up; yield: to lay down one's arms.
b. to assert firmly; state authoritatively: to lay down rigid rules of conduct.
c. to stock; store: to lay down wine.
19. lay for, wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him.
21. lay into, attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words.
24. lay off,
a. to dismiss (an employee), esp. temporarily because of slack business.
b. cease or quit: He promised to lay off drinking.
c. stop annoying or teasing: Lay off me, will you?
d. stop work: They laid off at four and went home.
e. to put aside or take off.
f. to mark off; measure; plot.
g. give or hand over; pass on: They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center.
j. sail away from.
k. remain stationary at a distance from.
l. Shipbuilding.See lay 1 (def. 46d).
25. lay on,
a. to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax.
b. to strike blows; attack violently: When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.
c. sail toward.
d. row (an oar) with a full stroke.
e. tell, impart, or give to: Let me lay a little good advice on you.
f. Chiefly Brit. provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat: The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.
26. lay oneself out, try one's best; make a great effort: They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success.
27. lay open,
a. to cut open: to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.
b. to expose; reveal: Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.
28. lay out,
a. to extend at length.
b. to spread out in order; arrange; prepare.
c. to plan; plot; design.
d. to ready (a corpse) for burial.
e. spend or contribute (money).
f. knock (someone) down or unconscious.
g. scold vehemently; reprimand: Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.
h. to make a layout of.
i. Chiefly South Midland and Southern absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.
29. lay over,
31. lay to,
a. check the motion of (a ship).
b. put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.
c. to attack vigorously.
d. to put forth effort; apply oneself.
32. lay up,
a. to put away for future use; store up.
b. to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable.
c. retire (a ship) from active use.
d. Naut.(of a ship) to be retired from active use.
e. to construct (a masonry structure): The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.

2. Slang (vulgar).
a. a partner in sexual intercourse.
b. an instance of sexual intercourse.
5. batten3 (defs. 1, 2).


Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
pt. of lie 2.


Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
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.


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


Pronunciation: (lā), [key]
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.


See also:
  • lay (Thesaurus)


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