Definitions of LAY in various dictionaries:
noun -
a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
noun -
a narrative poem of popular origin
verb -
put into a certain place or abstract location
verb -
put in a horizontal position
verb -
prepare or position for action or operation
verb -
lay eggs
verb -
impose as a duty, burden, or punishment
verb -
be located or situated somewhere
verb -
be lying, be prostrate
verb -
originate (in)
verb -
be and remain in a particular state or condition
verb -
tell an untruth
verb -
have a place in relation to something else
verb -
assume a reclining position
adj -
characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy
adj -
not of or from a profession
To cause to lie down: lay a child in its crib.
To place in or bring to a particular state or position.
To bury.
To put or set down: lay new railroad track.
To produce and deposit: lay eggs.
To cause to subside; calm or allay: “chas’d the clouds... and laid the winds” (John Milton).
To put up to or against: lay an ear to the door.
To put forward as a reproach or an accusation: They laid the blame on us.
To put or set in order or readiness for use: lay the table for lunch.
To devise; contrive: lay plans.
To spread over a surface: lay paint on a canvas.
To place or give (importance): lay stress on clarity of expression.
To impose as a burden or punishment: lay a penalty upon the offender.
To present for examination: lay a case before a committee.
To put forward as a demand or an assertion: laid claim to the estate.
To place (a bet); wager.
To aim (a gun or cannon).
To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.
To make in this manner: lay up cable.
To have sexual intercourse with.
To produce and deposit eggs.
To bet; wager.
Non-Standard.
To engage energetically in an action.
To put oneself into the position indicated.
The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in: a left lay.
The amount of such twist.
The state of one that lays eggs: a hen coming into lay.
Vulgar Slang.
Sexual intercourse.
A partner in sexual intercourse.
To give up; abandon: lay aside all hope of rescue.
To save for the future.
To reserve for the future; save.
To put aside and hold for future delivery.
To give up and surrender: laid down their arms.
To specify: laid down the rules.
To store for the future.
To lie down.
To scold sharply.
To attack physically; beat up.
To terminate the employment of (a worker), especially temporarily.
To mark off: lay off an area for a garden.
To stop doing something; quit.
To place all or a part of an accepted bet with another bookie in order to reduce the risk.
To apply (something) by or as if by spreading (it) onto a flat surface: laid on a thick Southern accent.
To prepare, usually in an elaborate fashion; arrange: laid on cocktails for 50 at the last minute.
To present or reveal to; confront with: “went around talking to people about anything until he could lay his standard question on them” (John Vinocur).
To make a detailed plan for.
To clothe and prepare (a corpse) for burial.
To rebuke harshly: She laid me out for breaking the vase.
To knock to the ground or unconscious.
To expend; spend: lay out a fortune on jewelry.
To display: lay out merchandise; lay the merchandise out.
To bring (a ship) to a stop in open water.
To remain stationary and face into the wind.
To stock for future use: lay up supplies for a long journey.
To confine with an illness or injury: was laid up for a month.
To put (a ship) in dock, as for repairs.
To exaggerate; overstate.
To accelerate suddenly a motor vehicle from a halt to a high speed, thereby spinning the wheels and depositing on the road a thin film of burned rubber from the rear tire or tires.
Of, relating to, or involving the laity: a lay preacher.
Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional: a lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.
A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.
A song; a tune.
verb - to deposit as a wager