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lay

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of lay

1 a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect
  • The minstrel strummed a cheerful lay on his lute.
Synonyms of lay

air, melody, song, strain, tune, warble
Words Related to lay

descant (also discant)

cadence, measure, meter, rhythm

ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal
2 a short musical composition for the human voice often with instrumental accompaniment
  • She sang a short lay in dedication to her husband.
Synonyms of lay

ballad, ditty, jingle, lyric, song, vocal
Words Related to lay

anthem, cantata, canticle, carol, chorale, hymn, noel, psalm, spiritual

dirge, lament, requiem, threnody

hallelujah, paean

aria, barcarole (or barcarolle), chant, chantey (or chanty), folk song, glee, lullaby, madrigal, motet, part-song, round, roundelay, serenade

lay

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of lay

1 to arrange something in a certain spot or position
  • Just lay the book over there on the table for now.
Synonyms of lay

depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, place, position, put, set, set up, situate, stick
Words Related to lay

move, rearrange, reorder, shift

orient

establish, locate, plant, settle

clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk (or plonk), plunk down, slap

ensconce, niche

assemble, collect

carry

berth, park

affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge

array, lay out, line up, queue, rank

set down
Near Antonyms of lay

relocate, remove, take

banish

dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant
2 to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
  • The rain was just hard enough to lay the dust in the air.
Synonyms of lay

sediment, settle
Words Related to lay

filter, screen, sieve, sift, strain

clarify, clear

resettle
Near Antonyms of lay

agitate, disturb, mix, stir
Antonyms of lay

raise
3 to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
  • State officials tried to lay a tax on merchandise sold over the Internet.
Synonyms of lay

assess, charge, exact, fine, impose, levy, put
Words Related to lay

dock, excise, penalize, tax

extort, shake down, wrest, wring

bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze

coerce, compel, force

inflict, wreak
Near Antonyms of lay

abate, diminish, lessen

forgive, release

condone, disregard, excuse, gloss (over), gloze (over), ignore, pardon
Antonyms of lay

remit
4 to make ready in advance
  • She's laying plans for the charity auction months ahead of time.
Synonyms of lay

fit, fix, groom, prep, prepare, ready
Words Related to lay

brace, fortify, gird, steel

batten, gear up, mount

educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, train, tutor

boot (up), prime

arrange, set, spread

arm, equip, forearm, furnish, outfit, provide, supply

draft, draw up, frame
5 to put a layer of on a surface
  • The mason laid mortar over the first row of bricks before starting the second.
Synonyms of lay

apply, lay on, spread
Words Related to lay

anoint, bedaub, besmear, dab, daub, plaster, slather, smear

blanket, carpet, coat, cover, layer, mantle, overlay, overspread, sheet, surface
Near Antonyms of lay

bare, expose, peel, strip, uncover
6 to risk (something) on the outcome of an uncertain event
  • I'll lay five dollars that you can't do it!
Synonyms of lay

bet, gamble, go, play, put, stake, wager
Words Related to lay

bid, offer

adventure, chance, hazard, speculate, venture

endanger, imperil, jeopardize
7 to explain (something) as being the result of something else
  • an electrical fire that was laid to faulty wiring
Synonyms of lay

accredit, ascribe, attribute, chalk up, credit, impute, put down
Words Related to lay

blame, charge, father (on), impute (to), pin (on)

assign, refer

associate, attach, connect, link
8 to place (a dead body) in the earth, a tomb, or the sea
  • Let's lay the corpse to rest.
Synonyms of lay

bury, entomb, inhume, inter, put away
Words Related to lay

immure, inurn

enshrine

conceal, cover, ensconce, hide

obscure, shade, shield

cloak, curtain, enshroud, shroud

rebury, reinter

coffin
Near Antonyms of lay

burn, cremate

bare, disclose, discover, display, exhibit, expose, reveal, show

uncoffin
Antonyms of lay

disinter, exhume, unearth

Learn More about lay

  1. See words that rhyme with lay Dictionary: Definition of 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

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