lay

1 of 5

verb

ˈlā

laid ˈlād

; laying

transitive verb

: to beat or strike down with force

: to put or set down

lay your books on the table

: to place for rest or sleep

She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.

especially : bury

: to bring forth and deposit (an egg)

: calm, allay

lay the dust

: bet, wager

: to press down giving a smooth and even surface

brushing to lay the nap

: to dispose or spread over or on a surface

lay track

lay plaster

: to set in order or position

lay a table for dinner

lay brick

: 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

: to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment

lay a tax

: to put as a burden of reproach

laid the blame on her

: to advance as an accusation : impute

the disaster was laid to faulty inspection

: to place (something immaterial) on something

lay stress on grammar

: prepare, contrive

a well-laid plan

: to bring against or into contact with something : apply

laid the watch to his ear

: 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

: to bring to a specified condition

lay waste the land

: assert, allege

lay claim to an estate

: to submit for examination and judgment

laid her case before the commission

often vulgar : to copulate with

intransitive verb

: to produce and deposit eggs

nonstandard : lie entry 1

: wager, bet

dialect : plan, prepare

: to apply oneself vigorously

laid to his oars

: to proceed to a specified place or position on a ship

lay aloft

Lay vs. Lie: Usage Guide

Lay has been used intransitively in the sense of "lie"

going to 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.

lay

2 of 5

noun (1)

ˈlā

: covert, lair

: something (such as a layer) that lies or is laid (see lay entry 1)

: line of action : plan

: line of work : occupation

: terms of sale or employment : price

: share of profit (as on a whaling voyage) paid in lieu of wages

: the amount of advance of any point in a rope strand for one turn

: 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

: the way in which a thing lies or is laid in relation to something else

the lay of the land

: the state of one that lays eggs

hens coming into lay

vulgar : a partner in sexual intercourse

usually vulgar : sexual intercourse

lay

3 of 5

past tense of lie

lay

4 of 5

noun (2)

ˈlā

: a simple narrative poem : ballad

: melody, song

lay

5 of 5

adjective

ˈlā

: of or relating to the laity : not ecclesiastical

: of or relating to members of a religious house occupied with domestic or manual work

a lay brother

: not of a particular profession

the lay public

also : lacking extensive knowledge of a particular subject

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English leyen, from Old English lecgan; akin to Old English licgan to lie — more at lie

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French lai — see lay entry 5

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French lai, from Late Latin laicus, from Greek laikos of the people, from laos people

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lay

1 of 5 verb

ˈlā

laid ˈlād

; laying

: to beat or strike down

wheat laid flat by the wind and rain

: to put or set on or against a surface or in order

lay the book on the table

lay bricks

: to place for rest or sleep

especially : bury sense 1

: to produce and deposit eggs

nonstandard : lie entry 1

: to cause to settle

a shower laid the dust

also : to make calm : allay

laid his fears

: to spread over a surface

lay plaster

: to make ready : prepare

lay plans

lay a table

: to deposit as a wager : bet

I'll lay you $10 on that

: impose sense 1a

lay a tax

lay blame

: to place or assign in one's scheme of things

lays great stress on manners

: to bring to a specified condition

lay waste to the land

: to put forward : submit

lay claim to an estate

lay

2 of 5 noun

: the way in which a thing lies in relation to something else

lay of the land

lay

3 of 5

past of lie entry 1

lay

4 of 5 noun

: a simple poem that tells a story : ballad

: melody sense 2, song

lay

5 of 5 adjective

: of or relating to laymen or the laity

单词	lay into
释义	lay 1 of 5 verb ˈlā laid ˈlād ; laying transitive verb 1 : to beat or strike down with force 2 a : to put or set down lay your books on the table b : 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) 4 : calm, allay lay the dust 5 : bet, wager 6 : to press down giving a smooth and even surface brushing to lay the nap 7 a : 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 8 a : 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 10 : prepare, contrive a well-laid plan 11 a : 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 13 a : assert, allege lay claim to an estate b : to submit for examination and judgment laid her case before the commission 14 often vulgar : to copulate with intransitive verb 1 : to produce and deposit eggs 2 nonstandard : lie entry 1 3 : wager, bet 4 dialect : plan, prepare 5 a : to apply oneself vigorously laid to his oars b : to proceed to a specified place or position on a ship lay aloft Lay vs. Lie: Usage Guide Lay has been used intransitively in the sense of "lie" going to 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. lay 2 of 5 noun (1) ˈlā 1 : covert, lair 2 : something (such as a layer) that lies or is laid (see lay entry 1) 3 a : line of action : plan b : line of work : occupation 4 a : terms of sale or employment : price b : share of profit (as on a whaling voyage) paid in lieu of wages 5 a : 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 8 a vulgar : a partner in sexual intercourse b usually vulgar : sexual intercourse lay 3 of 5 past tense of lie lay 4 of 5 noun (2) ˈlā 1 : a simple narrative poem : ballad 2 : melody, song lay 5 of 5 adjective ˈlā 1 : of or relating to the laity : not ecclesiastical 2 : of or relating to members of a religious house occupied with domestic or manual work a lay brother 3 : not of a particular profession the lay public also : lacking extensive knowledge of a particular subject Phrases lay an egg : to fail or blunder especially embarrassingly The professor tried to be funny, but he laid an egg. lay eyes on : see, behold I never laid eyes on her before today. lay into : to attack especially verbally laid into the referee lay on the table 1 : to remove (a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely 2 British : to put (something, such as legislation) on the agenda Synonyms Verb depose deposit dispose emplace fix place position put set set up situate stick Noun (1) calling employment game line occupation profession trade vocation work Noun (2) air melody song strain tune warble See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb 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. Adjective a science magazine written for the lay public See More Word History Etymology Verb and Noun (1) Middle English leyen, from Old English lecgan; akin to Old English licgan to lie — more at lie Noun (2) Middle English, from Anglo-French lai — see lay entry 5 Adjective Middle English, from Anglo-French lai, from Late Latin laicus, from Greek laikos of the people, from laos people First Known Use Verb before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (1) 1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing lay get/lay one's hands on lay/put (all/all of) one's cards on the table lay/put stress on lay a/the foundation lay a finger on lay/put a guilt trip on lay away lay/put (something) to rest lay aside lay bare lay charges lay day lay by lay down lay down one's arms lay down the law lay down one's life lay hold of lay it on the line lay in lay off lay oneself open lay on lay out lay over lay plans lay reader lay the groundwork/foundation lay siege to lay to lay up lay (someone) to rest lay the blame/responsibility on lay the blame for (something) at someone's door lay waste to set/lay great store by the lay of the land lay it on lay a hand on lay great stress/emphasis on lay figure lay on the table lay an egg lay into lay eyes on See More get/lay one's hands on lay/put (all/all of) one's cards on the table lay/put stress on lay a/the foundation lay a finger on lay/put a guilt trip on lay away lay/put (something) to rest lay aside lay bare lay charges lay day lay by lay down lay down one's arms lay down the law lay down one's life lay hold of lay it on the line lay in lay off lay oneself open lay on lay out lay over lay plans lay reader lay the groundwork/foundation lay siege to lay to lay up lay (someone) to rest lay the blame/responsibility on lay the blame for (something) at someone's door lay waste to set/lay great store by the lay of the land lay it on lay a hand on lay great stress/emphasis on lay figure lay on the table lay an egg lay into lay eyes on See More Kids Definition lay 1 of 5 verb ˈlā laid ˈlād ; laying 1 : to beat or strike down wheat laid flat by the wind and rain 2 a : to put or set on or against a surface or in order lay the book on the table lay bricks b : to place for rest or sleep especially : bury sense 1 3 : to produce and deposit eggs 4 nonstandard : lie entry 1 5 : to cause to settle a shower laid the dust also : to make calm : allay laid his fears 6 : to spread over a surface lay plaster 7 : to make ready : prepare lay plans lay a table 8 : to deposit as a wager : bet I'll lay you $10 on that 9 : impose sense 1a lay a tax lay blame 10 : to place or assign in one's scheme of things lays great stress on manners 11 : to bring to a specified condition lay waste to the land 12 : to put forward : submit lay claim to an estate lay 2 of 5 noun : the way in which a thing lies in relation to something else lay of the land lay 3 of 5 past of lie entry 1 lay 4 of 5 noun 1 : a simple poem that tells a story : ballad 2 : melody sense 2, song lay 5 of 5 adjective : of or relating to laymen or the laity Legal Definition lay 1 of 2 transitive verb laid; laying 1 : to impose as a duty, burden, or punishment lay a tax 2 a : to put forward : assert lay a claim b : to submit for examination and determination laid a case before the commission lay 2 of 2 past of lie lay into phrase as in scold to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings His parents laid into him for wrecking the car. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance scold lecture call down reprimand bawl out dress down chew out blame criticize rant (at) rate rail (at or against) take to task rag attack jaw berate reproach ream (out) tongue-lash keelhaul flay upbraid chastise score read the riot act (to) fault admonish hammer rebuke mock baste lambast lambaste castigate remonstrate (with) pan knock lace (into) slam put down chide lash abuse blast scourge assail crucify harangue denounce condemn reprove censure revile scoff reprehend ridicule excoriate disparage diss vituperate belittle dis scorn bad-mouth Antonyms & Near Antonyms approve sanction endorse indorse extol praise extoll laud See More
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lay

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing lay

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

phrase