inlay

1 of 2

verb

in·​lay (ˌ)in-ˈlā  ˈin-ˌlā 

inlaid (ˌ)in-ˈlād 

ˈin-ˌlād

; inlaying

transitive verb

1

a

: to set into a surface or ground material

b

: to adorn with insertions

c

: to insert (something, such as a color plate) into a mat or other reinforcement

2

: to rub, beat, or fuse (something, such as wire) into an incision in metal, wood, or stone

inlayer noun

inlay

2 of 2

noun

in·​lay ˈin-ˌlā 

1

: inlaid work or a decorative inlaid pattern

2

: a tooth filling shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into place

Examples of inlay in a Sentence

Noun

The cabinet doors are decorated with inlays.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the main salon, terra firma appears in dining chairs upholstered in real palm leaf and a two-piece oak coffee table, as large as a redwood’s base, inlaid with green and copper marble. —Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2025

The light usually bounces from her mélange of expensive jewelry, which can be a mix of David Webb Lucite and diamond cuffs with elegant antique Victorian chains inlaid with stones to her own designs of diamonds and gold. —Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2025

Noun

Breezy interiors balance local crafts—coconut wood, wicker, and mother-of-pearl inlays—with creature comforts such as open-plan living rooms, outdoor rain showers, and private pools large enough to swim laps in. —Chris Schalkx, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2025

Meanwhile, the inlay for a maxillary left central incisor was deeper into the dentin layer, but stopped short of the pulp chamber. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inlay

• airway
• allay
• archway
• array
• ashtray
• astray
• aue
• away
• ballet
• belay
• beltway
• beret

Kids Definition

inlay

1 of 2 verb

in·​lay (ˈ)in-ˈlā 

inlaid -ˈlād  ; inlaying

: to set into a surface for decoration or strengthening

inlayer noun

inlay

2 of 2 noun

in·​lay ˈin-ˌlā 

1

: inlaid work or material used in inlaying

2

: a tooth filling shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into place

Medical Definition

inlay

noun

in·​lay ˈin-ˌlā 

1

: a tooth filling shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into place

2

: a piece of tissue (as bone) laid into the site of missing tissue to cover a defect