transitive verb
1
: to beat or strike down with force
2
a
: to put or set down
lay your books on the table
b
: to place for rest or sleep
She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.
3
: to bring forth and deposit (an egg)
6
: to press down giving a smooth and even surface
7
a
: to dispose or spread over or on a surface
b
: to set in order or position
c
: to put (strands) in place and twist to form a rope, hawser, or cable
also
: to make by putting strands in place and twisting
8
a
: to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment
c
: to advance as an accusation : impute
the disaster was laid to faulty inspection
9
: to place (something immaterial) on something
11
a
: to bring against or into contact with something : apply
laid the watch to his ear
b
: to prepare or position for action or operation
lay a fire in the fireplace
also
: to adjust (a gun) to the proper direction and elevation
12
: to bring to a specified condition
13
b
: to submit for examination and judgment
laid her case before the commission
14
often vulgar
: to copulate with
intransitive verb
1
: to produce and deposit eggs
5
a
: to apply oneself vigorously
b
: to proceed to a specified place or position on a ship
2
: something (such as a layer) that lies or is laid (see lay entry 1)
4
a
: terms of sale or employment : price
b
: share of profit (as on a whaling voyage) paid in lieu of wages
5
a
: the amount of advance of any point in a rope strand for one turn
b
: the nature of a fiber rope as determined by the amount of twist, the angle of the strands, and the angle of the threads in the strands
6
: the way in which a thing lies or is laid in relation to something else
7
: the state of one that lays eggs
8
a
vulgar
: a partner in sexual intercourse
1
: of or relating to the laity : not ecclesiastical
2
: of or relating to members of a religious house occupied with domestic or manual work
3
: not of a particular profession
also
: lacking extensive knowledge of a particular subject
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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