lay

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