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To position or place something in a particular place or spot
“Lay a whisper on my pillow. Leave the winter on the ground.”
To put or apply as a layer or coating
“Mix and lay some cement at the bottom of each hole.”
To present or put forward
“It may otherwise generally regulate its own procedure, but it must lay a report before Parliament.”
To prepare or plan in advance
“The object of the convention was to lay plans for securing the rights of suffrage.”
To stake (an amount of money) in a bet
“I'll lay ten dollars on the home team winning.”
To inflict or impose, especially a charge or penalty
“I should contemplate, with great reluctance, the proposition to lay additional taxes on railroads.”
To set up or put in place
“These efforts foster goodwill and help lay the groundwork for subsequent collaborations.”
To assign responsibility or attribution to
“Too often, and increasingly, we've found it convenient to lay the task of raising the nation's children on our schools.”
To assign culpability or guilt for a wrongdoing
“I suppose I should not lay too much blame at the feet of my ex-wife.”
To bury in a grave
“I beg you to take us there, that we may lay his body to rest so that his spirit may fly to Yarshilla and be at one with her.”
To lay eggs
“For example, turtles lay their eggs within hours in beach sand and then leave them.”
To engage in carnal activity
To assert one's right or claim to something
(of a material) To spread or open out
To make something look (more) presentable
To offer or submit something or someone for consideration
To confer or bestow (power, authority, property, etc.) on someone
To deliver or administer something painful or undesirable to
To have an amorous encounter with
To put securely in place or in the desired position
To cover something with paving slabs
To express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something
(obsolete) To lower, let fall, or cause to sink
To seize and hold firmly
(of suspended particles) To sink slowly in a liquid to form sediment
To focus on, usually of one's vision or thoughts
To spend or invest (a lot of) money
To make or give a flat and even surface to
To lean or turn away from a given plane or direction, especially the vertical or horizontal
Past tense for to tell an untruth or falsehood
“You always start fidgeting and slurring your words whenever you lie.”
Past tense for to be in, or to assume, a horizontal or resting position
“You'd best lie here on this bed until your wounds heal.”
Past tense for to rest or sleep while lying down
“I've always got plenty of work to do, and I'd rather be getting on with that or taking the dog for a walk than lie in bed asleep.”
(of a place) Past tense for to be situated in a specified position or direction
“Our destination would lie about twenty miles beyond the valley.”
(of an object) Past tense for to rest or be placed on a surface
“An ancient tome would lie on the altar.”
(of something abstract) Past tense for to reside or be found
“The reality would lie somewhere between the two extremes.”
Past tense for to remain hidden or unseen
“Just lie low and try not to draw any attention to yourself.”
(of a deceased person) Past tense for to be buried in a particular place
“He would lie among the remains of pontiffs from centuries past.”
A structured arrangement of items within certain limits
“Wolff studied the lay of the land, the roads, the villages, the forest areas, and many other physical features offered by the surrounding area.”
A musical or lyrical composition
“This movement imagines Ophelia at the point of drowning, as she sings her musical lay and enters the water.”
A song, typically a religious one of praise to God or a god
A person's regular occupation, profession, or trade
A long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition
An illegal or dishonest scheme
Sexual intercourse, often informal, typically used as a euphemism for the act
A poem or other rhythmical literary piece
Land or a place, including all the built structures on it
Not having professional qualifications or expert knowledge, especially in law or medicine
“Imbalances in knowledge between lay people and professionals make it difficult for lay people to assess a person's ability and competence.”
Not ordained into or belonging to the clergy
“In the colonies, the lay vestry emerged to help with the management of church resources and property.”
Designed to suit the general public rather than specialists or intellectuals
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