Definition of lay
laid
play \ˈlād\;laying
transitive verb
1 : to beat or strike down with force
2a : to put or set down lay your books on the tableb : to place for rest or sleep She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.; especially : bury
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 plasterb : to set in order or position lay a table for dinner lay brickc : 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 taxb : to put as a burden of reproach laid the blame on herc : to advance as an accusation : impute the disaster was laid to faulty inspection
lay an egg
lay eyes on
lay into
lay on the table
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lay vs. lie
lay has been used intransitively in the sense of “lie” lay down for a quick nap since the 14th century. The practice was unremarked until around 1770; attempts to correct it have been a fixture of schoolbooks ever since. Generations of teachers and critics have succeeded in taming most literary and learned writing, but intransitive lay persists in familiar speech and is a bit more common in general prose than one might suspect. Much of the problem lies in the confusing similarity of the principal parts of the two words. Another influence may be a folk belief that lie is for people and lay is for things. Some commentators are ready to abandon the distinction, suggesting that lay is on the rise socially. But if it does rise to respectability, it is sure to do so slowly: many people have invested effort in learning to keep lie and lay distinct. Remember that even though many people do use lay for lie, others will judge you unfavorably if you do.
Examples of lay in a Sentence
Lay the fabric carefully on the table.
He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.
She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.
When will they lay the foundation for the addition?
lay tracks for the new railroad
They laid him in his grave.
Origin and Etymology of lay
Middle English leyen, from Old English lecgan; akin to Old English licgan to lie — more at lie
Definition of lay
2 : something (such as a layer) that lies or is laid (see 1lay)
3a : line of action : planb : line of work : occupation
4a : terms of sale or employment : priceb : 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 turnb : 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 intercourseb usually vulgar : sexual intercourse
Origin and Etymology of lay
see 1lay
Origin and Etymology of lay
Middle English, from Anglo-French lai —see 5lay
Other Literature Terms
Definition of lay
Examples of lay in a Sentence
a science magazine written for the lay public
Origin and Etymology of lay
Middle English, from Anglo-French lai, from Late Latin laicus, from Greek laikos of the people, from laos people
LAY Defined for English Language Learners
lay
playDefinition of lay for English Language Learners
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: not trained in a certain profession : not having a lot of knowledge about a certain thing
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: belonging to a religion but not officially a priest, minister, etc.
LAY Defined for Kids
Definition of lay for Students
laid
\ˈlād\;laying
1 : to put or set down I laid my hat on the table.
2 : to bring down (as with force) Crops were laid flat by the wind.
3 : to produce an egg
4 : bury 2
5 : to place in position on or along a surface lay tracks
7 : to bring into contact with He laid the watch to his ear.
8 : to place a burden, charge, or penalty lay a tax He didn't know where to lay blame.
lay down
lay eyes on
lay in
lay off
lay out
lay up
Definition of lay for Students
: the way a thing lies in relation to something else the lay of the land
Law Dictionary
lay
Legal Definition of lay
laid
laying
1 : to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment lay a tax
2a : to put forward : assert lay a claim b : to submit for examination and determination laid a case before the commission
Learn More about lay
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See words that rhyme with lay Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lay Spanish Central: Translation of lay Nglish: Translation of lay for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lay for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lay
Seen and Heard
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