What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
lais
noun
plural of lai
1 : a medieval type of short tale in French literature that is usually in octosyllabic verse and deals with subjects of Celtic origin often connected with Arthur or the Round Table
2 : a medieval type of lyric poem revived in the 17th century and composed in unsymmetrical couplets each sung to its own melody
From the M-W Editors
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up lais? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!