lay
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lay
set down; place; past tense of lie
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
lay 1
(lā)v. laid (lād), lay·ing, lays
v.tr.
1. To cause to lie down: lay a child in its crib.
2.
a. To place in or bring to a particular position: lay the cloth over the painting.
b. To bury.
3. To cause to be in a particular condition: The remark laid him open to criticism.
4. To put or set down: lay new railroad track.
5. To produce and deposit: lay eggs.
6. To cause to subside; calm or allay: "chas'd the clouds ... and laid the winds" (John Milton).
7. To put up to or against something: lay an ear to the door.
8. To put forward as a reproach or an accusation: They laid the blame on us.
9. To put or set in order or readiness for use: lay the table for lunch.
10. To devise; contrive: lay plans.
11. To spread over a surface: lay paint on a canvas.
12. To place or give (importance): lay stress on clarity of expression.
13. To impose as a burden or punishment: lay a penalty upon the offender.
14. To present for examination: lay a case before a committee.
15. To put forward as a demand or an assertion: laid claim to the estate.
16. Games To place (a bet); wager.
17. To aim (a gun or cannon).
18.
a. To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.
b. To make in this manner: lay up cable.
19. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.
v.intr.
1. To produce and deposit eggs.
2. To bet; wager.
3. Nonstandard To lie.
4. Nautical To put oneself into the position indicated.
n.
Phrasal Verbs: 1.
a. The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in: a left lay.
b. The amount of such twist.
2. The state of one that lays eggs: a hen coming into lay.
3. Vulgar Slang
a. Sexual intercourse.
b. A partner in sexual intercourse.
lay about
To strike blows on all sides.
lay aside
1. To give up; abandon: lay aside all hope of rescue.
2. To save for the future: laid aside money for a vacation.
lay away
1. To reserve for the future; save.
2. To put aside and hold for future delivery.
lay by
1. To save for future use.
2. Nautical To remain stationary while heading into the wind.
lay down
1. To give up and surrender: laid down their arms.
2. To specify: laid down the rules.
3. To store for the future.
4. Nonstandard To lie down.
lay for
To be waiting to attack: Muggers were laying for the unsuspecting pedestrian in the alley.
lay in
To store for future use: lay in supplies for an Arctic winter.
lay into Informal
1. To scold sharply.
2. To attack physically; beat up.
lay off
1. To terminate the employment of (a worker).
2. To mark off: lay off an area for a garden.
3. Slang To stop doing something; quit.
4. Games To place all or a part of (an accepted bet) with another bookie in order to reduce the risk.
lay on
1. To apply (something) by or as if by spreading onto a flat surface: laid on a thick Southern accent.
2. To prepare, usually in an elaborate fashion; arrange: laid on cocktails for 50 at the last minute.
3. 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).
lay out
1. To arrange according to a plan: laid out the seating of the guests.
2. To clothe and prepare (a corpse) for burial.
3. To rebuke harshly: She laid me out for breaking the vase.
4. To knock to the ground or unconscious: laid out his opponent with a left hook.
5. To expend; spend: lay out a fortune on jewelry.
6. To display: lay out merchandise; lay the merchandise out.
lay over
To make a stopover in the course of a journey.
lay to Nautical
1. To bring (a ship) to a stop in open water.
2. To remain stationary while heading into the wind.
lay up
Idioms: 1. To stock for future use: lay up supplies for a long journey.
2. Informal To confine with an illness or injury: was laid up for a month.
3. Nautical To put (a ship) in dock, as for repairs.
4. Sports To hit a golf shot less far than one is able so as to avoid a hazard.
lay down the law
To issue orders or instructions sharply or imperiously.
lay it on thick Informal
To exaggerate or overstate something.
lay low
1. To keep oneself or one's plans hidden.
2. To bide one's time but remain ready for action.
3. To cause to be dead or unable to get up from a lying position: How many soldiers were laid low in that battle? The flu has laid low thousands.
lay of the land
The nature, arrangement, or disposition of something.
lay rubber Slang
To accelerate a motor vehicle suddenly from a stop so that the wheels spin rapidly.
lay waste
To ravage: Rebel troops laid waste the town.
Usage Note: Lay ("to put, place, or prepare") and lie ("to recline or be situated") have been confused for centuries; evidence exists that lay has been used to mean "lie" since the 1300s. Why? First, there are two lays. One is the base form of the verb lay, and the other is the past tense of lie. Second, lay was once used with a reflexive pronoun to mean "lie" and survives in the familiar line from the child's prayer Now I lay me down to sleep; lay me down is easily shortened to lay down. Third, lay down, as in She lay down on the sofa sounds the same as laid down, as in I laid down the law to the kids. · By traditional usage prescription, these words should be kept distinct according to the following rules. Lay is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. Lay and its principal parts (laid, laying) are correctly used in the following examples: He laid (not lay) the newspaper on the table. The table was laid for four. Lie is an intransitive verb and cannot take an object. Lie and its principal parts (lay, lain, lying) are correctly used in the following examples: She often lies (not lays) down after lunch. When I lay (not laid) down, I fell asleep. The rubbish had lain (not laid) there a week. I was lying (not laying) in bed when he called. · There are a few exceptions to these rules. The phrasal verb lay for and the nautical use of lay, as in lay at anchor, though intransitive, are standard.
lay 2
(lā)adj.
1. Of, relating to, or involving the laity: a lay preacher.
2. Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional: a lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.
[Middle English, from Old French lai, from Late Latin lāicus, from Greek lāikos, of the people, from lāos, the people.]
lay 3
(lā)n.
1. A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.
2. A song; a tune.
[Middle English, from Old French lai.]
lay 4
(lā)v.
Past tense of lie1.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lay
(leɪ)vb (mainly tr) , lays, laying or laid (leɪd)
1. to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie: to lay a cover on a bed.
2. to place, put, or be in a particular state or position: he laid his finger on his lips.
3. (intr) not standard to be in a horizontal position; lie: he often lays in bed all the morning.
4. (sometimes foll by down) to establish as a basis: to lay a foundation for discussion.
5. to place or dispose in the proper position: to lay a carpet.
6. to arrange (a table) for eating a meal
7. to prepare (a fire) for lighting by arranging fuel in the grate
8. (Zoology) (also intr) (of birds, esp the domestic hen) to produce (eggs)
9. to present or put forward: he laid his case before the magistrate.
10. to impute or attribute: all the blame was laid on him.
11. to arrange, devise, or prepare: to lay a trap.
12. to place, set, or locate: the scene is laid in London.
13. to apply on or as if on a surface: to lay a coat of paint.
14. to impose as a penalty or burden: to lay a fine.
15. to make (a bet) with (someone): I lay you five to one on Prince.
16. to cause to settle: to lay the dust.
17. to allay; suppress: to lay a rumour.
18. to bring down forcefully: to lay a whip on someone's back.
19. slang to have sexual intercourse with
20. slang to bet on (a horse) to lose a race
21. to press down or make smooth: to lay the nap of cloth.
22. (Forestry) to cut (small trunks or branches of shrubs or trees) halfway through and bend them diagonally to form a hedge: to lay a hedge.
23. to arrange and twist together (strands) in order to form (a rope, cable, etc)
24. (Military) military to apply settings of elevation and training to (a weapon) prior to firing
25. (Hunting) (foll by on) hunting to put (hounds or other dogs) onto a scent
26. (Art Terms) another word for inlay
27. (intr; often foll by to or out) dialect or informal to plan, scheme, or devise
28. (Nautical Terms) (intr) nautical to move or go, esp into a specified position or direction: to lay close to the wind.
29. (Nautical Terms) lay aboard nautical (formerly) to move alongside a warship to board it
30. (Nautical Terms) nautical to sail on a planned course without tacking
31. to plan an action
32. lay bare to reveal or explain: he laid bare his plans.
33. (Ecclesiastical Terms) lay hands on See hands12
34. lay hold of to seize or grasp
35. lay oneself open to make oneself vulnerable (to criticism, attack, etc): by making such a statement he laid himself open to accusations of favouritism.
36. lay open to reveal or disclose
37. (Military) lay siege to to besiege (a city, etc)
n
38. the manner or position in which something lies or is placed
39. taboo slang
a. an act of sexual intercourse
b. a sexual partner
40. (Fishing) a portion of the catch or the profits from a whaling or fishing expedition
41. the amount or direction of hoist in the strands of a rope
[Old English lecgan; related to Gothic lagjan, Old Norse leggja]
Usage: In careful English, the verb lay is used with an object and lie without one: the soldier laid down his arms; the Queen laid a wreath; the book was lying on the table; he was lying on the floor. In informal English, lay is frequently used for lie: the book was laying on the table. All careful writers and speakers observe the distinction even in informal contexts
lay
(leɪ)adj
1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) of, involving, or belonging to people who are not clergy
2. nonprofessional or nonspecialist; amateur
[C14: from Old French lai, from Late Latin lāicus, ultimately from Greek laos people]
lay
(leɪ)n
1. (Poetry) a ballad or short narrative poem, esp one intended to be sung
2. (Music, other) a song or melody
[C13: from Old French lai, perhaps of Germanic origin]
lay
(leɪ)vb
the past tense of lie2
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
lay1
(leɪ)v. laid, lay•ing,
n. v.t.
1. to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk.
2. to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low.
3. to put or place in a particular position: The dog laid its ears back.
4. to cause to be in a particular state or condition: Their motives were laid bare; We laid their doubts at rest.
5. to set, place, or apply (often fol. by to or on): to lay a hand on someone.
6. to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion: to lay bricks.
7. to place on, along, or under a surface: to lay a pipeline.
8. to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations.
9. to present or submit for notice or consideration: I laid my case before the commission.
10. to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge.
11. to impute, attribute, or ascribe: to lay blame on the inspector.
12. to bury: They laid him in the old churchyard.
13. to bring forth and deposit (an egg or eggs).
14. to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like: to lay an embargo on oil shipments.
15. to place dinner service on (a table); set.
16. to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else.
17. to devise or arrange, as a plan.
18. to deposit as a wager; stake: He laid $10 on the horse.
19. to bet (someone): I'll lay you ten to one that we win.
20. to set (a trap).
21. to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France.
22. to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth.
23. to quiet or make vanish: to lay a ghost.
24. to cause to subside: A light rain layed the dust.
25. Vulgar Slang. to have sexual intercourse with.
26. to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment.
27. to form by twisting strands together, as a rope.
28. to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction.
29. to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation.
30. to put (dogs) on a scent.
v.i. 31. to lay eggs.
32. to wager or bet.
33. to apply oneself vigorously.
34. to deal or aim blows vigorously (usu. fol. by on, at, about, etc.).
35. Nonstandard. lie 2.
36. South Midland U.S. to plan or scheme (often fol. by out).
37. Naut. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay close to the wind.
38. lay aboard, (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.
39. lay aside,
a. to abandon; reject.
b. to save for use at a later time; store.
40. lay away,
a. to reserve for later use; save.
b. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat.
c. to bury (someone).
41. lay back, Slang. to relax.
42. lay by, to put away for future use; store; save: She had managed to lay by money for college.
43. lay down,
a. to give up; hand over; yield.
b. to assert firmly; state authoritatively.
c. to stock; store: to lay down wine.
44. lay for, to wait for in hiding in order to ambush.
45. lay in, to store away for future use.
46. lay into, to attack physically or verbally.
47. lay off,
a. to dismiss (an employee), esp. temporarily because of slack business.
b. Informal. to cease or quit.
c. Slang. to stop annoying or teasing.
d. Informal. to stop work.
e. to stop or stop using: to lay off drinking.
f. to mark off; measure; plot.
g. to transfer (part of a wager) to other bookmakers, for protection against losses.
h. to transfer (blame or responsibility) to another.
48. lay on,
a. to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax.
b. to strike blows; attack violently.
49. lay open,
a. to cut open.
b. to expose; reveal.
c. to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism.
50. lay out,
a. to extend at length.
b. to spread out in order; arrange; prepare.
c. to plan; plot; design.
d. to ready (a corpse) for burial.
e. Informal. to spend or contribute (money).
f. Slang. to knock (someone) down or unconscious.
g. Slang. to scold vehemently; reprimand.
h. to make a layout of.
51. lay over,
a. to postpone.
b. to make a stopover.
52. lay to,
a. to check the motion of (a ship).
b. to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.
c. to attack vigorously.
d. to put forth effort; apply oneself.
53. lay up,
n. a. to put away for future use; store up.
b. to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable.
c. to construct (a masonry structure).
d. to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material.
54. the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the south pasture.
55. Vulgar Slang.
a. a partner in sexual intercourse.
b. an instance of sexual intercourse.
56. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands.
57. a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew.
Idioms: 1. get laid, Vulgar Slang. to have sexual intercourse with someone.
2. lay bare, to uncover; reveal; disclose.
3. lay it on (thick), to flatter someone or boast extravagantly; exaggerate.
[before 900; Middle English layen,leggen, Old English lecgan (causative of licgan to lie2), c. Old Saxon leggian, Old High German lecken, legen, Old Norse legja, Gothic lagjan]
usage: lay and lie are often confused. lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. She laid the baby in the crib. lay also has several intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” ( The hens have stopped laying), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off. ― lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay: Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road.The dog lay in the shade. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday. Substitution of forms of lay for those of lie occur in all but the most formal speech and writing, but constructions like the following are generally considered incorrect: Can you lay down? The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.
lay2
(leɪ)v.
pt. of lie 2 .
lay3
(leɪ)adj.
1. belonging to, involving, or performed by the laity, as distinguished from the clergy: a lay sermon.
2. not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, esp. the law or medicine: a lay opinion on a legal case.
[1300–50; Middle English < Middle French lai < Medieval Latin lāicus laic]
lay4
(leɪ)n.
1. a short narrative or other poem.
2. a song.
[1200–50; Middle English lai < Old French, perhaps < Celtic; compare Old Irish láed, laíd poem, lay]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
lay
- lay - As in layperson, it derives from Greek laikos, "of the people"—as opposed to clerics.
- nest egg - Poultry farmers formerly placed a porcelain or other fake egg in a hen's nest to encourage it to lay more eggs—from this came nest egg, money saved to encourage the making of more.
- lay, lie - To lay is to place something; to lie is to recline.
- oviposit - To lay an egg.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
lay
1. Direct or adjust the aim of a weapon.
2. Setting of a weapon for a given range, a given direction, or both.
3. To drop one or more aerial bombs or aerial mines onto the surface from an aircraft.
4. To spread a smoke screen on the ground from an aircraft.
5. To calculate or project a course.
6. To lay on: a. to execute a bomber strike; b. to set up a mission.
2. Setting of a weapon for a given range, a given direction, or both.
3. To drop one or more aerial bombs or aerial mines onto the surface from an aircraft.
4. To spread a smoke screen on the ground from an aircraft.
5. To calculate or project a course.
6. To lay on: a. to execute a bomber strike; b. to set up a mission.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
lay
– lie1. 'lay'
Lay is a transitive verb, and it is also a past tense of another verb, lie.
To lay something somewhere means to put it there carefully or neatly.
Lay a sheet of newspaper on the floor.
The other forms of lay are lays, laying, laid.
Michael laid the box on the table gently.
'I couldn't get a taxi,' she said, laying her hand on Nick's sleeve.
2. 'lie'
Lie is an intransitive verb with two different meanings.
To lie somewhere means to be there in a horizontal position, or to get into that position.
She would lie on the floor, listening to music.
When lie is used like this, its other forms are lies, lying, lay, lain. The -ed participle lain is rarely used.
The baby was lying on the table.
I lay in bed listening to the rain.
To lie means to say or write something which you know is untrue. When lie is used like this, its other forms are lies, lying, lied.
Why did he lie to me?
Robert was sure that Thomas was lying.
He had lied about where he had been that night.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
lay
Past participle: laid
Gerund: laying
| Imperative |
|---|
| lay |
| lay |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
lay
A short narrative poem, usually meant to be sung.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  lay - a narrative song with a recurrent refrainsong, vocal - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs" minstrelsy - ballads sung by minstrels |
| 2. |  lay - a narrative poem of popular origin poem, verse form - a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines Edda - either of two distinct works in Old Icelandic dating from the late 13th century and consisting of 34 mythological and heroic ballads composed between 800 and 1200; the primary source for Scandinavian mythology | |
| Verb | 1. | lay - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point" docket - place on the docket for legal action; "Only 5 of the 120 cases docketed were tried" postpose - place after another constituent in the sentence; "Japanese postposes the adpositions, whereas English preposes them" prepose - place before another constituent in the sentence; "English preposes the adpositions; Japanese postposes them" step - place (a ship's mast) in its step put back, replace - put something back where it belongs; "replace the book on the shelf after you have finished reading it"; "please put the clean dishes back in the cabinet when you have washed them" stratify - form, arrange, or deposit in layers; "The fish are stratified in barrels"; "The rock was stratified by the force of the water"; "A statistician stratifies the list of names according to the addresses" plant - place something or someone in a certain position in order to secretly observe or deceive; "Plant a spy in Moscow"; "plant bugs in the dissident's apartment" intersperse - place at intervals in or among; "intersperse exclamation marks in the text" pile - place or lay as if in a pile; "The teacher piled work on the students until the parents protested" arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order" superpose - place (one geometric figure) upon another so that their perimeters coincide park - place temporarily; "park the car in the yard"; "park the children with the in-laws"; "park your bag in this locker" dispose - place or put in a particular order; "the dots are unevenly disposed" emplace - put into place or position; "the box with the ancestors' ashes was emplaced on the top shelf of the house altar" emplace - provide a new emplacement for guns ship - place on board a ship; "ship the cargo in the hold of the vessel" underlay - put (something) under or beneath; "They underlaid the shingles with roofing paper" trench - set, plant, or bury in a trench; "trench the fallen soldiers"; "trench the vegetables" pigeonhole - place into a small compartment shelve - place on a shelf; "shelve books" jar - place in a cylindrical vessel; "jar the jam" repose - to put something (eg trust) in something; "The nation reposed its confidence in the King" sign - place signs, as along a road; "sign an intersection"; "This road has been signed" middle - put in the middle parallelize - place parallel to one another recess - put into a recess; "recess lights" reposition - place into another position throw, thrust - place or put with great energy; "She threw the blanket around the child"; "thrust the money in the hands of the beggar" rack up - place in a rack; "rack pool balls" coffin - place into a coffin; "her body was coffined" bed - put to bed; "The children were bedded at ten o'clock" appose - place side by side or in close proximity place down, put down, set down - cause to sit or seat or be in a settled position or place; "set down your bags here" misplace - place or position wrongly; put in the wrong position; "misplaced modifiers" juxtapose - place side by side; "The fauvists juxtaposed strong colors" set down - put or settle into a position; "The hotel was set down at the bottom of the valley" bottle - put into bottles; "bottle the mineral water" bucket - put into a bucket barrel - put in barrels ground - place or put on the ground mislay, misplace, lose - place (something) where one cannot find it again; "I misplaced my eyeglasses" upend - set, turn, or stand on end; "upend the box and empty the contents" seat - place in or on a seat; "the mother seated the toddler on the high chair" |
| 2. | lay - put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed" lay, place, put, set, position, pose - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point" rail - lay with rails; "hundreds of miles were railed out here" lay - lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay" blow - lay eggs; "certain insects are said to blow" entomb, inhume, inter, lay to rest, bury - place in a grave or tomb; "Stalin was buried behind the Kremlin wall on Red Square"; "The pharaohs were entombed in the pyramids"; "My grandfather was laid to rest last Sunday" rebury - bury again; "After the king's body had been exhumed and tested to traces of poison, it was reburied in the same spot" | |
| 3. | lay - prepare or position for action or operation; "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan" | |
| 4. | lay - lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay" spawn - lay spawn; "The salmon swims upstream to spawn" | |
| 5. | lay - impose as a duty, burden, or punishment; "lay a responsibility on someone" | |
| Adj. | 1. | lay - characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry" |
| 2. | lay - not of or from a profession; "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease" nonprofessional - not professional; not engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or for gain; "the nonprofessional wives of his male colleagues"; "nonprofessional actors" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
lay
1verb
1. place, put, set, spread, plant, establish, settle, leave, deposit, put down, set down, posit Lay a sheet of newspaper on the floor.
2. devise, plan, design, prepare, work out, plot, hatch, contrive, concoct They were laying a trap for the kidnapper.
4. arrange, prepare, make, organize, position, locate, set out, devise, put together, dispose, draw up The organisers meet in March to lay plans.
5. attribute, charge, assign, allocate, allot, ascribe, impute She refused to lay the blame on any one party.
6. put forward, offer, present, advance, lodge, submit, bring forward Police have decided not to lay charges over allegations of phone tapping.
lay into someone (Informal) attack, hit, set about, hit out at, assail, tear into, pitch into (informal), go for the jugular, lambast(e), belabour, lash into, let fly at A mob of women laid into him with handbags and pointed shoes.
lay it on thick (Slang) exaggerate, flatter, overdo it, lay it on with a trowel (informal), overpraise, soft- (informal) Don't lay it on too thick, but make sure they are flattered.
lay off (Informal) stop, give up, quit, cut it out, leave alone, pack in, abstain, leave off, give over (informal), let up, get off someone's back (informal), give it a rest (informal) He went on attacking her until other passengers arrived and told him to lay off.
lay someone off dismiss, fire (informal), release, drop, sack (informal), pay off, discharge, oust, let go, make redundant, give notice to, give the boot to (slang), give the sack to (informal), give someone their cards, give someone his or her P45 (informal) 100,000 federal workers will be laid off to reduce the deficit.
lay someone out (Informal) knock out, fell, floor, knock unconscious, knock for six, kayo (slang) He turned round, marched over to the man, and just laid him out.
lay someone up (Informal) confine (to bed), hospitalize, incapacitate He was recovering from a knee injury that laid him up for six months.
lay something aside abandon, reject, dismiss, postpone, shelve, put off, renounce, put aside, cast aside All animosities were laid aside for the moment.
lay something bare reveal, show, expose, disclose, unveil, divulge The clearing out of disused workshops laid bare thousands of glazed tiles.
lay something down
1. stipulate, state, establish, prescribe, assume, formulate, affirm, ordain, set down, postulate The Companies Act lays down a set of minimum requirements.
2. sacrifice, give up, yield, surrender, turn over, relinquish The drug traffickers have offered to lay down their arms.
lay something in store (up), collect, build up, accumulate, buy in, amass, stockpile, hoard, stock up, heap up They began to lay in extensive stores of food supplies.
lay something on provide, prepare, supply, organize, give, cater (for), furnish, purvey They laid on a superb meal.
lay something out
1. arrange, order, design, display, exhibit, put out, spread out She took a deck of cards and began to lay them out.
2. present, explain, describe, show, unfold, spell out We listened carefully as he laid out his plan.
3. (Informal) spend, pay, invest, fork out (slang), expend, shell out (informal), disburse You won't have to lay out a fortune for this dining table.
lay
2adjective
1. nonclerical, secular, non-ordained, laic, laical He is a Methodist lay preacher and social worker.
2. nonspecialist, amateur, unqualified, untrained, inexpert, nonprofessional It is difficult for a lay person to gain access to medical libraries.
lay
3noun poem, song, lyric, ballad, ode Yeats used Comyn's `The Lay of Oisin on the Land of Youth' as a source.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
lay 1
verb1. To place (a story, for example) in a designated setting:
set.
3. To place (a corpse) in or as if in a grave:
Idiom: lay to rest.
4. To regard as belonging to or resulting from another:
6. To form a strategy for:
blueprint, cast, chart, conceive, contrive, design, devise, formulate, frame, plan, project, scheme, strategize, work out.
Informal: dope out.
Idiom: lay plans.
8. To put up as a stake in a game or speculation.Also used with down:
Informal: go.
lay aside
phrasal verb
lay away
1. To reserve for the future:
lay by
phrasal verb
lay down
2. To set forth expressly and authoritatively:
Idioms: call the shots, lay it on the line.
lay for
Informal. To wait concealed in order to attack (someone):
Idioms: lay wait for, lie in wait for.
lay in
1. To reserve for the future:
lay into
phrasal verb
lay off
Slang. To cease trying to accomplish or continue:
Informal: swear off.
lay out
3. To show graphically the direction or location of, as by using coordinates:
lay up
1. To reserve for the future:
lay 2
adjectiveThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
تَضَعُ بيضاراهِب غَيْر مَرْسومغَيْر مِهَنيقِصَّة شِعْرِيَّه مَلْحَمِيَّه قَصيرَهيَبيضُ
laickýpoložitpředložitpřipravitsnášet
læggelægge nedpræsenterevæddeanbringe
asettaamuniapannalaittaamaallikko
položitisnesti
kveîa niîurleggjaleggja áleggja aftur/samanleggja undir, veîja
･･･を産む置く
낳다(…을) 놓다
baladedētizklāstītizkliedētizlikt
baladaepická báseňlaický
nestipoložiti
läggaligga
วางไข่ ออกไข่วางลง
bày biệnđẻ
lay
1 [leɪ]A. VT (laid (pt, pp))
1. (= place, put) → poner, colocar; [+ carpet, lino] → poner, extender; [+ bricks] → poner, colocar; [+ pipes] (in building) → instalar; [+ cable, mains, track, trap] → tender; [+ foundations] → echar; [+ foundation stone] → colocar; [+ bomb, explosives] → colocar; [+ mines] → sembrar
I haven't laid eyes on him for years → hace años que no lo veo
I didn't lay a finger on it! → ¡no lo toqué!
to lay sth flat → extender algo (sobre la mesa )
I don't know where to lay my hands on → no sé dónde echar mano a or conseguir ...
to lay sth over or on sth → extender algo encima de algo
I haven't laid eyes on him for years → hace años que no lo veo
I didn't lay a finger on it! → ¡no lo toqué!
to lay sth flat → extender algo (sobre la mesa )
I don't know where to lay my hands on → no sé dónde echar mano a or conseguir ...
to lay sth over or on sth → extender algo encima de algo
2. (= prepare) [+ fire] → preparar; [+ plans] → hacer
to lay the table (Brit) → poner la mesa
the best laid plans (of mice and men) can go astray → el hombre propone y Dios dispone
to lay the table (Brit) → poner la mesa
the best laid plans (of mice and men) can go astray → el hombre propone y Dios dispone
3. (= present) [+ plan, proposal] → presentar (before a) [+ accusation, charge] → hacer; [+ complaint] → formular, presentar
to lay a claim before sb → presentar una reivindicación a algn
to lay the facts before sb → presentar los hechos a algn
see also charge A1
see also claim A2
to lay a claim before sb → presentar una reivindicación a algn
to lay the facts before sb → presentar los hechos a algn
see also charge A1
see also claim A2
4. (= attribute) [+ blame] → echar; [+ responsibility] → atribuir (on a) to lay the blame (for sth) on sb → echar la culpa (de algo) a algn
5. (= flatten, suppress) [+ corn] → abatir, encamar; [+ dust] → matar; [+ doubts, fears] → acallar; [+ ghost] → conjurar
6. (= cause to be)
to lay a town flat → arrasar or destruir una ciudad
he has been laid low with flu → la gripe lo ha tenido en cama
to lay o.s. open to attack/criticism → exponerse al ataque/a la crítica
to be laid to rest → ser enterrado
to lay a town flat → arrasar or destruir una ciudad
he has been laid low with flu → la gripe lo ha tenido en cama
to lay o.s. open to attack/criticism → exponerse al ataque/a la crítica
to be laid to rest → ser enterrado
7. [+ bet] → hacer; [+ money] → apostar (on a) I'll lay you a fiver on it! → ¡te apuesto cinco libras a que es así!
to lay that → apostar a que ...
they're laying bets on who is going to leave next → hacen apuestas sobre quién será el próximo en marcharse
see also odds 1
to lay that → apostar a que ...
they're laying bets on who is going to leave next → hacen apuestas sobre quién será el próximo en marcharse
see also odds 1
B. VI [hen] → poner (huevos)
C. N
1. [of countryside, district etc] → disposición f, situación f
the lay of the land (US) → la configuración del terreno (fig) → la situación, el estado de las cosas
the lay of the land (US) → la configuración del terreno (fig) → la situación, el estado de las cosas
2. hen in lay → gallina f ponedora
to come into lay → empezar a poner huevos
to go out of lay → dejar de poner huevos
to come into lay → empezar a poner huevos
to go out of lay → dejar de poner huevos
4. (= act) → polvo m
D. CPD lay days NPL (Comm) → días mpl de detención or inactividad
lay aside VT + ADV
2. (= put away) [+ book, pen] → dejar, poner a un lado
3. (= abandon) [+ prejudices, differences] → dejar de lado
lay away VT + ADV (US) = lay aside 1
lay by VT + ADV = lay aside 1
lay down
A. VT + ADV
1. (= put down) [+ book, pen] → dejar, poner a un lado; [+ luggage] → dejar; [+ burden] → posar, depositar en tierra; [+ cards] → extender sobre el tapete; (= lay flat) [+ person, body] → acostar, tender
to lay o.s. down → tumbarse, echarse
to lay o.s. down → tumbarse, echarse
4. (= give up) [+ arms] → deponer, rendir
to lay down one's life for sth/sb → dar su vida por algo/algn
to lay down one's life for sth/sb → dar su vida por algo/algn
5. (= establish) [+ condition] → establecer; [+ precedent] → sentar, establecer; [+ principle] → establecer, formular; [+ policy] → trazar, formular; [+ ruling] → dictar
to lay it down that → asentar que ..., dictaminar que ...
see also law A2
to lay it down that → asentar que ..., dictaminar que ...
see also law A2
6. (= impose) [+ condition] → imponer
lay in VT + ADV [+ food, fuel, water] → proveerse de, abastecerse de; (= amass) → acumular; (= buy) → comprar
to lay in supplies → aprovisionarse
to lay in supplies of sth → proveerse or abastecerse de algo
to lay in supplies → aprovisionarse
to lay in supplies of sth → proveerse or abastecerse de algo
lay off
A. VT + ADV [+ workers] (= sack) → despedir; (temporarily) → despedir or suspender (temporalmente por falta de trabajo)
C. VI + PREP to lay off sb → dejar a algn en paz
to lay off cigarettes → dejar de fumar (cigarrillos)
lay off it! → ¡ya está bien!, ¡déjalo por Dios!
to lay off cigarettes → dejar de fumar (cigarrillos)
lay off it! → ¡ya está bien!, ¡déjalo por Dios!
lay on VT + ADV
2. (= provide) [+ food, drink] → proporcionar
you rent the hall and we'll lay on the refreshments → usted alquila la sala y nosotros nos hacemos cargo de or ponemos los refrigerios
everything's laid on → todo está dispuesto
they laid on a car for me → pusieron un coche a mi disposición
you rent the hall and we'll lay on the refreshments → usted alquila la sala y nosotros nos hacemos cargo de or ponemos los refrigerios
everything's laid on → todo está dispuesto
they laid on a car for me → pusieron un coche a mi disposición
3. [+ paint] → poner, aplicar
to lay it on thick or with a trowel (= exaggerate) → recargar las tintas
to lay it on thick or with a trowel (= exaggerate) → recargar las tintas
4. [+ tax, duty] → imponer
5. to lay it on sb → dar una paliza a algn
lay out VT + ADV
1. (= dispose) [+ cloth, rug] → tender, extender; [+ objects] → disponer, arreglar; [+ goods for sale] → exponer; [+ garden, town] → trazar, hacer el trazado de; [+ page, letter] → presentar, diseñar; [+ clothes] → preparar; [+ ideas] → exponer, explicar
the house is well laid out → la casa está bien distribuida
the town is well laid out → la ciudad tiene un trazado elegante
the house is well laid out → la casa está bien distribuida
the town is well laid out → la ciudad tiene un trazado elegante
2. [+ corpse] → amortajar
5. (reflexive) to lay o.s. out for sb → hacer lo posible por ayudar/complacer a algn
he laid himself out to please → se volcó por complacerla/los
he laid himself out to please → se volcó por complacerla/los
lay up VT + ADV
1. (= store) → guardar, almacenar; (= amass) → acumular
he's laying up trouble for himself → se está creando or buscando problemas
he's laying up trouble for himself → se está creando or buscando problemas
2. (= put out of service) [+ ship] → meter en el dique seco; [+ boat] → amarrar; [+ car] → encerrar (en el garaje)
3. (Med) to be laid up (with sth) → estar en cama (con algo)
she was laid up for weeks → tuvo que guardar cama durante varias semanas
she was laid up for weeks → tuvo que guardar cama durante varias semanas
lay
3 [leɪ]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
lay
[ˈleɪ] pt of lie
adj (= non-religious) [organization] → laïque lay preacher
vt [laid] (pt, pp)
(= put) → mettre
She laid the baby in her cot → Elle a mis le bébé dans son lit.
to lay the facts before sb → présenter les faits à qn
to lay one's proposals before sb → présenter ses propositions à qn
to lay the blame on sb → rejeter la faute sur qn
She refused to lay the blame on any one party → Elle refusa de rejeter la faute sur un parti en particulier.
She laid the baby in her cot → Elle a mis le bébé dans son lit.
to lay the facts before sb → présenter les faits à qn
to lay one's proposals before sb → présenter ses propositions à qn
to lay the blame on sb → rejeter la faute sur qn
She refused to lay the blame on any one party → Elle refusa de rejeter la faute sur un parti en particulier.
[+ eggs] → pondre
(= put in place) [+ carpet] → poser; [+ pipes] → poser; [+ trap] → tendre
A man came to lay the carpet → Un homme est venu pour poser la moquette.
to lay a trap for sb → tendre un piège à qn
to lay the foundations for sth (fig) → jeter les fondations de qch
A man came to lay the carpet → Un homme est venu pour poser la moquette.
to lay a trap for sb → tendre un piège à qn
to lay the foundations for sth (fig) → jeter les fondations de qch
to lay the table → mettre la table
The table was laid for lunch → La table était mise pour le déjeuner.
The table was laid for lunch → La table était mise pour le déjeuner.
to lay o.s. open to sth [+ criticism, attack] → prêter le flanc à qch
to get laid → baiser
He said it was six months since he'd last got laid → Il a dit que ça faisait six mois qu'il n'avait pas baisé.
He said it was six months since he'd last got laid → Il a dit que ça faisait six mois qu'il n'avait pas baisé.
lay aside
vt sep [+ object] → mettre de côté
[+ differences] → mettre de côté
lay down
vt sep (= put down) [+ object, burden] → poser
(= sacrifice) to lay down one's life for sb → donner sa vie à qn
Raymond claims that Ducruet and his bodyguard laid into him → Raymond prétend que Ducruet et son garde du corps lui sont tombés dessus.
lay in
vt sep → accumulerlay into
vi (= attack) (verbally) → enfoncer; (physically) → tomber surRaymond claims that Ducruet and his bodyguard laid into him → Raymond prétend que Ducruet et son garde du corps lui sont tombés dessus.
lay off
vi (= stop) → cesser
to lay off doing sth → arrêter de faire qch
to lay off doing sth → arrêter de faire qch
lay on
vt sep [+ transport, service] → mettre en place
They laid on extra buses → Ils ont mis en place un service de bus supplémentaire.
They laid on extra buses → Ils ont mis en place un service de bus supplémentaire.
[+ paint] → étaler
lay out
vt sep (= design) → concevoir
(= display) → disposer
Clothes and jewels were laid out on the ground → On avait disposé les vêtements et les bijoux sur le sol.
Clothes and jewels were laid out on the ground → On avait disposé les vêtements et les bijoux sur le sol.
(= spend) → dépenser
(= explain) → exposer
Maxwell listened closely as Johnson laid out his plan → Maxwell écoutait attentivement tandis que Johnson exposait son plan.
Maxwell listened closely as Johnson laid out his plan → Maxwell écoutait attentivement tandis que Johnson exposait son plan.
[+ body] → étendre
lay up
vt sep (= store) → amasser
[+ ship] → désarmer
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
lay
:layabout
n (Brit) → Nichtstuer(in) m(f), → Arbeitsscheue(r) mf
layaway
n (US Comm) → angezahlte und zurückgelegte Ware
lay brother
n → Laienbruder m
lay
:layman
n → Laie m
lay-off
layout
n → Anordnung f, → Anlage f; (Typ) → Lay-out nt; the standard lay of German stations → wie deutsche Bahnhöfe normalerweise angelegt sind; we have changed the lay of this office → wir haben dieses Büro anders aufgeteilt; our house has a different lay → unser Haus hat eine andere Zimmerverteilung or ist anders angelegt
layover
n (US) → Aufenthalt m
layperson
n → Laie m
lay reader
n → Hilfsdiakon m
lay sister
n → Laienschwester f
laywoman
n → Laie m
lay
1lay
2adj → Laien-; lay opinion → die öffentliche Meinung, die Öffentlichkeit; a lay opinion → die Meinung eines Laien
lay
4 vb: pret, ptp <laid>n
vt
(= place, put) → legen (→ sth on sth etw auf etw acc); wreath → niederlegen; to lay (one’s) hands on (= get hold of) → erwischen, fassen; (= find) → finden; to lay a hand on somebody → jdm etwas tun, Hand an jdn legen (geh); I never laid a hand on him → ich habe ihn überhaupt nicht angefasst, ich habe ihm überhaupt nichts getan; he took all the money he could lay his hands on → er nahm alles Geld, das ihm in die Finger kam (inf)
bricks, foundations, track → legen; concrete → gießen; cable, mains, pipes → verlegen; road → bauen, anlegen; carpet, lino → (ver)legen
(= prepare) fire → herrichten; (esp Brit) table → decken; mines, ambush → legen; trap → aufstellen; plans → schmieden; to lay the table for breakfast/lunch (esp Brit) → den Frühstücks-/Mittagstisch decken; to lay a trap for somebody → jdm eine Falle stellen; even the best-laid plans can go wrong → selbst die ausgeklügeltsten Pläne können schiefgehen
(non-material things) burden → auferlegen (on sb jdm); to lay the blame for something on somebody/something → jdm/einer Sache die Schuld an etw (dat) → geben; to lay responsibility for something on somebody → jdn für etw verantwortlich machen; the stress which he lays on it → der Nachdruck, den er darauf legt
(= bring forward) complaint → vorbringen (before bei); accusation → erheben; the police laid a charge of murder against him → die Polizei erstattete gegen ihn Anzeige wegen Mordes; he laid out his case before them → er trug ihnen seinen Fall vor
dust → binden; ghost → austreiben; fear → zerstreuen; doubts → beseitigen; to lay waste → verwüsten; to lay the ghost of something (fig) → etw endgültig begraben ? low1, openetc
bet → abschließen; money → setzen; to lay bets on something → auf etw (acc) → wetten; I lay you a fiver on it! → ich wette mit dir um 5 Pfund!; I’ll lay you that … → ich wette mit dir, dass …; I’ll lay you anything … → ich gehe mit dir jede Wette ein …
(sl) to lay a woman → eine Frau flachlegen (sl); he just wants to get laid → er will nur bumsen (inf)
vi (hen) → legen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
lay
1 [leɪ] adj (Rel) → laico/a, secolare; (brother, sister) → laico/a (fig) (non-specialist) → profano/alay
3 [leɪ] (laid (pt, pp))1. vt
a. (put, set) → mettere, posare; (carpet) → stendere; (bricks) → posare; (cable, pipe) → installare, fare la posa di; (trail) → lasciare; (subj, bird, egg) → deporre, fare
to lay sth over sth → stendere qc su qc
to lay sth on sth → coprire qc con qc
to lay the facts/one's proposals before sb → presentare i fatti/delle proposte a qn
to be laid low with flu → essere costretto/a a letto con l'influenza
to be laid to rest (euph) (buried) → essere sepolto/a
to get laid (fam!) → scopare (fam!)
I don't know where to lay my hands on it → non saprei dove trovarlo
to lay o.s. open to attack/criticism → esporsi agli attacchi/alle critiche
to lay the blame (for sth) on sb → dar la colpa (di qc) a qn
to lay claim to sth → reclamare qc, accampare diritti mpl su qc
to lay odds or a bet on sth → scommettere su qc
to lay sth over sth → stendere qc su qc
to lay sth on sth → coprire qc con qc
to lay the facts/one's proposals before sb → presentare i fatti/delle proposte a qn
to be laid low with flu → essere costretto/a a letto con l'influenza
to be laid to rest (euph) (buried) → essere sepolto/a
to get laid (fam!) → scopare (fam!)
I don't know where to lay my hands on it → non saprei dove trovarlo
to lay o.s. open to attack/criticism → esporsi agli attacchi/alle critiche
to lay the blame (for sth) on sb → dar la colpa (di qc) a qn
to lay claim to sth → reclamare qc, accampare diritti mpl su qc
to lay odds or a bet on sth → scommettere su qc
b. (prepare, fire) → preparare; (trap, snare) → tendere; (mine) → posare, piantare; (table) → apparecchiare
c. (settle, ghost) → placare, esorcizzare; (doubts, fears) → eliminare, dissipare
2. vi (bird) → fare le uova, deporre le uova
lay alongside vi + adv (Naut) → affiancarsi
lay aside vt + adv → mettere da parte
lay by vt + adv → mettere da parte
lay down vt + adv
a. (put down, luggage) → posare, metter giù; (arms) → deporre, posare; (wine) → mettere in cantina
to lay down one's life for sb/sth → sacrificare la propria vita per qn/qc
to lay down one's life for sb/sth → sacrificare la propria vita per qn/qc
b. (dictate, conditions) → stabilire, fissare; (principle, rule, policy) → formulare, fissare
to lay down the law (fig) → dettar legge
to lay down the law (fig) → dettar legge
lay into vi + prep (fam) (attack, scold) → aggredire
lay off
1. vt + adv (permanently) → licenziare; (temporarily) → mettere in cassa integrazione
2. vi + adv (fam) → smettere
3. vi + prep (fam) lay off it! → piantala!
lay off him! → non rompergli le scatole!, lascialo in pace!
lay off him! → non rompergli le scatole!, lascialo in pace!
lay on vt + adv (provide, water, electricity, gas) → installare, mettere; (meal) → fornire; (paint) → applicare
to lay on (for) (meal, entertainment) → offrire (a) (facilities, transport) → mettere a disposizione (di)
to lay it on thick (fam) (flatter) → andarci pesante con i complimenti; (exaggerate) → metterla giù dura
to lay on (for) (meal, entertainment) → offrire (a) (facilities, transport) → mettere a disposizione (di)
to lay it on thick (fam) (flatter) → andarci pesante con i complimenti; (exaggerate) → metterla giù dura
lay out vt + adv
a. (plan, garden, house, town) → pianificare, progettare; (page, letter) → impostare
the way the house is laid out → la disposizione della casa
the way the house is laid out → la disposizione della casa
b. (put ready, clothes) → preparare; (display, goods for sale) → sistemare, disporre, presentare; (make ready, body for burial) → preparare, comporre
c. (spend) → sborsare
d. (knock out) → stendere
lay up vt + adv
a. (store, provisions) → far scorta or provvista di, accumulare
to lay up trouble for o.s → crearsi dei guai
to lay up trouble for o.s → crearsi dei guai
b. (put out of service, boat) → mettere in disarmo, ritirare in cantiere; (subj, illness) → costringere a letto
to be laid up with flu → essere costretto/a a letto con l'influenza
to be laid up with flu → essere costretto/a a letto con l'influenza
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
lay1
(lei) – past tense, past participle laid (leid) – verb1. to place, set or put (down), often carefully. She laid the clothes in a drawer / on a chair; He laid down his pencil; She laid her report before the committee.
2. to place in a lying position. She laid the baby on his back.
3. to put in order or arrange. She went to lay the table for dinner; to lay one's plans / a trap.
4. to flatten. The animal laid back its ears; The wind laid the corn flat.
5. to cause to disappear or become quiet. to lay a ghost / doubts.
6. (of a bird) to produce (eggs). The hen laid four eggs; My hens are laying well.
7. to bet. I'll lay five pounds that you don't succeed.
ˈlayer noun1. a thickness or covering. The ground was covered with a layer of snow; There was a layer of clay a few feet under the ground.
2. something which lays, especially a hen. a good layer.
verb to put, cut or arrange in layers. She had her hair layered by the hairdresser.
ˈlayabout noun a lazy, idle person.
ˈlay-by – plural ˈlay-bys – nounespecially in Britain, a short extra part at the side of a road for people to stop their cars in, out of the way of the traffic.
ˈlayout noun the manner in which something is displayed or laid out. the layout of the building.
laid up ill in bed. When I caught flu, I was laid up for a fortnight.
lay aside to put away or to one side, especially to be used or dealt with at a later time. She laid the books aside for later use.
lay bare to show clearly; to expose to view. They dug up the road and laid bare the water-pipe; Shy people don't like to lay bare their feelings.
lay by to put away for future use. She laid by a store of tinned vegetables.
lay down1. to give up. They laid down their arms; The soldiers laid down their lives in the cause of peace.
2. to order or instruct. The rule book lays down what should be done in such a case.
3. to store. My father laid down a good stock of wine which I am now drinking.
lay (one's) hands on1. to find or be able to obtain. I wish I could lay (my) hands on that book!
2. to catch. The police had been trying to lay hands on the criminal for months.
lay in to get and store a supply of. I've laid in an extra stock of drinks for Christmas.
lay low to make ill. I was laid low by flu, just before my exams.
lay off to dismiss (employees) temporarily. Because of a shortage of orders, the firm has laid off a quarter of its workforce.
lay on to provide. The staff laid on a tea party for the pupils.
lay out1. to arrange over a wide area (especially according to a plan). He was the architect who laid out the public gardens.
2. to spread so as to be easily seen. He laid out the contents of the box on the table.
3. to knock unconscious.
4. to spend (money).
5. to prepare (a dead body) to be buried.
lay up1. to keep or store. We laid up a good supply of apples this year from our own trees.
2. to put (a ship) out of use in a dock.
lay waste to make (a piece of land) into barren country by burning and plundering.
lay needs an object and has laid as its past tense and past participle: He (had) laid his book down ; He will be laying his proposals before the committee tomorrow .
lie takes no object and has lying as its present participle, lay as its past tense and lain as its past participle: Please lie down ; He lay down ; He had lain there for hours .
lie , to be untruthful, has lying as its present participle, and lied as its past tense and past participle: She (has always) lied about her age .
lie takes no object and has lying as its present participle, lay as its past tense and lain as its past participle: Please lie down ; He lay down ; He had lain there for hours .
lie , to be untruthful, has lying as its present participle, and lied as its past tense and past participle: She (has always) lied about her age .
lay3
(lei) adjective1. not a member of the clergy. lay preachers.
2. not an expert or a professional (in a particular subject). Doctors tend to use words that lay people don't understand.
ˈlayman noun a lay person.
lay4
(lei) noun an epic poem.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
lay
→ يَبيضُ, يَضَعُ položit, snášet lægge legen απιθώνω, κάνω poner asettaa, munia pondre, poser položiti, snesti deporre, stendere ･･･を産む, 置く 낳다, (…을) 놓다 leggen legge położyć, składać colocar, pôr класть, откладывать lägga, ligga วางไข่ ออกไข่, วางลง yatırmak, yumurtlamak bày biện, đẻ 下, 放置Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
lay
n. laico, secular; lay on;
v. poner, colocar;
to___ aside → desechar apartar;
to ___ off → suspender, despedir.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
lay
adj lego (Esp, form), no profesional; — opinion opinión lega or no profesionallay
pret de lieEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.