inlay

verb

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in·lay | \ (ˌ)in-ˈlā

, ˈin-ˌlā

inlaid\ (ˌ)in-ˈlād

, ˈin-ˌlād \; inlaying

Definition of inlay

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

inlay

noun

in·lay | \ ˈin-ˌlā

Definition of inlay (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : inlaid work or a decorative inlaid pattern

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

Other Words from inlay Example Sentences Learn More About inlay

Examples of inlay in a Sentence

Noun The cabinet doors are decorated with inlays.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Today, the method is so well established that the museum’s dinosaur halls are organized according to evolutionary ties, and the cladistic trees are inlaid in the floor. — John Schwartz, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 The New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick, wearing a sweatshirt, sat in his home in Nantucket, at a dining table inlaid with a harlequin diamond pattern, and traded out of the first round. — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2020 Subtle and sculptural, the memorial glade features six stone pieces inlaid with steel salvaged trade center steel. — Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2019 The drawing room, with a coffered ceiling and a fireplace inlaid with dark green marble, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. — Emily Nonko, WSJ, 29 Jan. 2020 The triangle is especially important in this belief system, so several of Kerr's pieces feature it in unexpected ways—like a console with a faceted front, or a cabinet with mother of pearl inlaid in a subtle chevron. — Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 21 Oct. 2019 Needless to say, the pieces are much too pretty to use as anything but decor: Each one was hand-made in Agra, where a family of artisans employed by Shroff dutifully inlaid lapis lazuli, malachite, and other semi-precious stones. — Marley Marius, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2019 Rice carved the surface of the bone into interweaving patterns of a turkey head, dogwood blossom and morels, then crushed and inlaid the turquoise. — Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 19 Feb. 2020 Elsewhere, a rubber masked Donald Trump went as Vladimir Putin's date, and a couple dressed as a set of Japanese fairy tale characters, wearing head-to-toe robes inlaid with real yellow, pink, and white daisies. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The mixture is impregnated with cyanoacrylate to turn the inlay into a composite, and the rings are finished with hand sanding and polishing. — Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2021 The house has original millwork, box beams, oak floors with mahogany inlay, oversize windows, grand entryway, living room with fireplace, and formal dining room with French doors leading to a covered porch. — The Week Staff, The Week, 25 Sep. 2021 See: an amber tower of river rocks, a pyramid with golden inlay, a bust that could have been sculpted by Michaelangelo, a pair o’ legs. — Hilary Cadigan, Bon Appétit, 10 Nov. 2021 During a recent renovation, the pool floor was decorated with a ceramic inlay on the bottom showing the outline of Moose Lake. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2021 The company will build a concrete walkway with a brick inlay to match other walkways downtown, patio areas also with brick pavers, a water feature and prepare the walls for the artwork. — Steve Lord, chicagotribune.com, 30 Sep. 2021 The four-bedroom, six-bathroom home features terrazzo floors with brass inlay, sliding doors to the outside and a surveillance system. — Lauren Beale, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021 This formal space features gold-inlay wallcoverings, handmade Bordeaux flooring and a room for china and silver. — Dallas News, 21 Aug. 2021 The money covers building a concrete walkway with a brick inlay to match other walkways downtown, patio areas also with brick pavers, a water feature, places for art on two building walls on either side of the park, and some of the artwork itself. — Steve Lord, chicagotribune.com, 11 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inlay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.