Definition of lay
(Entry 1 of 5)
1
: to beat or strike down with force
2a
: to put or set down
lay your books on the table
3
: to bring forth and deposit (an egg)
6
: to press down giving a smooth and even surface
brushing to lay the nap
7a
: to dispose or spread over or on a surface
lay track lay plaster
b
: to set in order or position
lay a table for dinner lay brick
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
lay up rope
8a
: to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment
lay a tax
b
: to put as a burden of reproach
laid the blame on her
c
: to advance as an accusation : impute
the disaster was laid to faulty inspection
9
: to place (something immaterial) on something
lay stress on grammar
11a
: 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
lay waste the land
b
: to submit for examination and judgment
laid her case before the commission
14
often vulgar
: to copulate with
1
: to produce and deposit eggs
5a
: to apply oneself vigorously
laid to his oars
b
: to proceed to a specified place or position on a ship
lay aloft
lay an egg
lay eyes on
lay into
lay on the table
: to fail or blunder especially embarrassingly
The professor tried to be funny, but he laid an egg.
: to attack especially verbally
laid into the referee
1
: to remove (a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely
2
British
: to put (something, such as legislation) on the agenda
lay
noun (1)Definition of lay (Entry 2 of 5)
2
: something (such as a layer) that lies or is laid (see lay entry 1)
3a
: line of action : plan
b
: line of work : occupation
4a
: terms of sale or employment : price
b
: share of profit (as on a whaling voyage) paid in lieu of wages
5a
: 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
the lay of the land
7
: the state of one that lays eggs
hens coming into lay
8a
vulgar
: a partner in sexual intercourse
lay
Definition of lay (Entry 3 of 5)
past tense of lie
lay
noun (2)lay
adjectiveDefinition of lay (Entry 5 of 5)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for lay
The first known use of lay was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century