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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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2. People also ask

   What does lay mean in English?

   • “Laid” is the past tense and past participle form of the verb “lay,” which means to put or place something down in a flat or gentle manner. It is used when referring to an action that has already been completed. Many English words have a few different meanings, and the verb “to lay” isn’t an exception.

   Layed vs. Laid: When to Use Laid vs. Layed (with Useful Examples) - 7ESL

   7esl.com/layed-vs-laid/

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   Is layed a word?

   • LAYED is an archaic word that nobody uses anymore and should be avoided in modern English. What Does “Laid” Mean? “Laid” is the past tense and past participle form of the verb “lay,” which means to put or place something down in a flat or gentle manner. It is used when referring to an action that has already been completed.

   Layed vs. Laid: When to Use Laid vs. Layed (with Useful Examples) - 7ESL

   7esl.com/layed-vs-laid/

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   What is the difference between a lie and a lay?

   • Grammatically speaking, lie is an intransitive verb, meaning it takes no direct object after it. A direct object is a noun (person, place, thing, or idea) or pronoun (takes the place of a noun, e.g., him, her, me, it, them) that receives the action of the verb. Lay, on the other hand is transitive and does take a direct object.

   Using “Lie” and “Lay” Correctly — bigwords101

   bigwords101.com/2017/blog/a-little-lay-and-lie-lesson/

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   What is the past tense of “layed”?

   • “Layed” is not a standard word in contemporary English. The correct past tense and past participle form of “lay” is “laid.” You can only use layed if you’re describing a time period a few centuries ago, and you need the appropriate vocabulary to create the needed mood.

   Layed vs. Laid: When to Use Laid vs. Layed (with Useful Examples) - 7ESL

   7esl.com/layed-vs-laid/

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3. quillbot.com › blog › commonly-confused-wordsLay vs Lie | Definitions & Difference - QuillBot

   quillbot.com › blog › commonly-confused-words

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   6 days ago · Lay means to “position someone or something horizontally or flatly, either in a resting position or to serve as a layer that covers another surface.” Lie means “to be or put oneself in a horizontal, reclined position on a surface.”

4. 7esl.com › layedLayed vs. Laid: When to Use Laid vs. Layed (with Useful ...

   7esl.com › layed

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   Jun 17, 2024 · What Does “Layed” Mean? “Layed” is not a standard word in contemporary English. The correct past tense and past participle form of “lay” is “laid.” You can only use layed if you’re describing a time period a few centuries ago, and you need the appropriate vocabulary to create the needed mood.

5. bigwords101.com › 2017 › blogUsing “Lie” and “Lay” Correctly — bigwords101

   bigwords101.com › 2017 › blog

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   Jun 13, 2024 · A direct object is a noun (person, place, thing, or idea) or pronoun (takes the place of a noun, e.g., him, her, me, it, them) that receives the action of the verb. Lay, on the other hand is transitive and does take a direct object.

6. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lay to restLay to rest Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lay to rest

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   Jun 21, 2024 · The meaning of LAY/PUT (SOMETHING) TO REST is to make someone stop thinking about or believing (something) by showing it is not true. How to use lay/put (something) to rest in a sentence.

7. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › layLay/put stress on Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lay

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   Jun 18, 2024 · The meaning of LAY/PUT STRESS ON is to give special importance or attention to : to emphasize. How to use lay/put stress on in a sentence.

8. 7esl.com › phrasal-verbs-with-lay8 Phrasal Verbs with Lay • 7ESL

   7esl.com › phrasal-verbs-with-lay

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   Jul 1, 2024 · Master phrasal verbs with lay using our comprehensive guide. Learn meanings and examples for phrases like "lay down" and "lay off," plus practice with interactive exercises.

9. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lay aLay a/the foundation Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › lay a

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   Jun 25, 2024 · 1. : to create a usually stone or concrete structure that supports a building from underneath. 2. : to provide something (such as an idea, a principle, or a fact) from which another thing develops or can develop. Her early research laid the foundation for many important medical discoveries.