1lay 
/ˈleɪ/ verb
lays; laid /ˈleɪ/ verb /ˈleɪd/; lay·ing 1 [+ obj] : to place (someone or something) down gently in a flat position
▪ 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. ▪ He says that he never laid a finger/hand on her. [=that he never touched her] — often + down ▪ He laid the newspaper down on the desk. ▪ She laid the baby down for his nap. — see also lay down (below) 2 [+ obj] a : to place (something) into position on or along a surface : to build or set (something) on or in the ground or another surface
▪ When will they lay the foundation for the addition? ▪ lay tracks for the new railroad ▪ lay pipe/cable/lines ▪ laying bricks — often + down ▪ laying down a new road/carpet — often used figuratively ▪ We are laying the groundwork/foundation [=providing conditions] for additional research.
b chiefly US : to spread (something) over a surface
▪ lay plaster/paint ▪ lay wallpaper 3 [+ obj] : bury 1a
▪ They laid him in his grave. 4 [no obj] informal : to be in a flat position on a surface : lie
▪ The book was laying on the table. ◊The use of lay to mean “lie” occurs commonly in informal speech but it is regarded as an error by many people. 5 [+ obj] a : to beat or strike (something) down with force
▪ The wheat was laid flat by the wind and rain.
b : to change the condition of something in a specified way
▪ The mountainside has been laid bare by loggers. [=all the trees on the mountainside have been cut down by loggers] ▪ He laid bare his soul. = He laid his soul bare. [=he revealed his most private thoughts and feelings] ▪ He laid himself open to criticism [=he exposed himself to criticism] with his remarks. 6 of a bird, insect, etc. : to produce (an egg) outside of the body : to push (an egg) out of the body [+ obj] ▪ birds that typically lay only two eggs per year [no obj] ▪ old chickens that no longer lay — see also lay an egg at 1egg 7 [+ obj] — used like make, place, or put in various phrases ▪ She has laid plans [=she has made plans] to cut the staff down to just 15 people. ▪ Even the best-laid plans [=the most carefully made plans] sometimes go wrong. ▪ She lays great stress/emphasis on good manners. [=she stresses/emphasizes good manners very much] ▪ The author lays the blame/responsibility for the state of the environment squarely on the government. [=the author blames the government for the state of the environment] 8 [+ obj] : to make (something) ready : to prepare (something)
▪ lay a trap ▪ lay a fire in the fireplace ▪ (Brit) Places were laid (at the table) for three people. [=silverware, glasses, and napkins were put on the table for three people who will be eating there] ▪ (Brit) lay [=set] the table for a meal 9 [+ obj] informal : to risk losing (money) if your guess about what will happen is wrong : bet
▪ lay money on a race 10 [+ obj] informal + offensive : to have sex with someone — usually used in the phrase get laid ▪ All he cares about is getting laid. [=having sex]
▪ 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. ▪ He says that he never laid a finger/hand on her. [=that he never touched her] — often + down ▪ He laid the newspaper down on the desk. ▪ She laid the baby down for his nap. — see also lay down (below)
▪ When will they lay the foundation for the addition? ▪ lay tracks for the new railroad ▪ lay pipe/cable/lines ▪ laying bricks — often + down ▪ laying down a new road/carpet — often used figuratively ▪ We are laying the groundwork/foundation [=providing conditions] for additional research.
b chiefly US : to spread (something) over a surface
▪ lay plaster/paint ▪ lay wallpaper
▪ They laid him in his grave.
▪ The book was laying on the table. ◊The use of lay to mean “lie” occurs commonly in informal speech but it is regarded as an error by many people.
▪ The wheat was laid flat by the wind and rain.
b : to change the condition of something in a specified way
▪ The mountainside has been laid bare by loggers. [=all the trees on the mountainside have been cut down by loggers] ▪ He laid bare his soul. = He laid his soul bare. [=he revealed his most private thoughts and feelings] ▪ He laid himself open to criticism [=he exposed himself to criticism] with his remarks.
▪ lay a trap ▪ lay a fire in the fireplace ▪ (Brit) Places were laid (at the table) for three people. [=silverware, glasses, and napkins were put on the table for three people who will be eating there] ▪ (Brit) lay [=set] the table for a meal
▪ lay money on a race
lay aside [phrasal verb]
lay (something) aside or lay aside (something) 1 : to place (something) to one side
▪ She laid aside [=put aside, set aside] the book she had been reading and turned on the TV. — often used figuratively ▪ Plans for a new school have been laid aside. [=put aside, set aside] ▪ It's time for all of us to lay aside old prejudices. ▪ We need to lay our differences aside so that we can learn to work together. 2 : to keep (something) for special or future use : to reserve or save (something) : to keep (something) for special or future use
▪ She has been able to lay aside [=put aside] a few dollars each week.
▪ She laid aside [=put aside, set aside] the book she had been reading and turned on the TV. — often used figuratively ▪ Plans for a new school have been laid aside. [=put aside, set aside] ▪ It's time for all of us to lay aside old prejudices. ▪ We need to lay our differences aside so that we can learn to work together.
▪ She has been able to lay aside [=put aside] a few dollars each week.
lay by [phrasal verb]
lay (something) by or lay by (something) : to keep (something) for special or future use
▪ She has been able to lay by [=lay aside] a few dollars each week.
▪ She has been able to lay by [=lay aside] a few dollars each week.
lay charges
Brit : to accuse someone officially of doing something illegal
▪ Police are deciding whether to lay charges (against her).
▪ Police are deciding whether to lay charges (against her).
lay claim to — see 2claim
lay down [phrasal verb] 1 lay (something) down or lay down (something) a : to clearly state (a rule, standard, guideline, etc.)
▪ The company has laid down strict new safety standards.
b : to stop using (something)
▪ At noon, we laid down the rakes and rested for a while. ▪ The strikers laid down their tools. 2 lay (a weapon) down or lay down (a weapon) : to put (a weapon) down and stop fighting
▪ The police ordered the criminals to lay down their weapons. 3 lay down your life formal : to give up your life for a good purpose : to die for a good cause
▪ heroes who laid down their lives to preserve our nation 4 lay down the law : to make a strong statement about what someone is or is not allowed to do
▪ The agreement lays down the law (to everyone) on what the group allows. ▪ When she came home after midnight, her father laid down the law: if she came home that late again, she would not be allowed to watch TV for a week. — see also 1lay 1 (above)
▪ The company has laid down strict new safety standards.
b : to stop using (something)
▪ At noon, we laid down the rakes and rested for a while. ▪ The strikers laid down their tools.
▪ The police ordered the criminals to lay down their weapons.
▪ heroes who laid down their lives to preserve our nation
▪ The agreement lays down the law (to everyone) on what the group allows. ▪ When she came home after midnight, her father laid down the law: if she came home that late again, she would not be allowed to watch TV for a week. — see also 1lay 1 (above)
lay eyes on — see 1eye
lay hold of — see 2hold
lay in [phrasal verb]
lay (something) in or lay in (something) : to get and store (a supply of something) for future use
▪ They laid in [=laid up] canned goods for the winter.
▪ They laid in [=laid up] canned goods for the winter.
lay into [phrasal verb]
lay into (someone or something) informal : to angrily attack or criticize (someone or something)
▪ The coach really laid into us for playing so carelessly.
▪ The coach really laid into us for playing so carelessly.
lay it on the line — see 1line
lay off [phrasal verb] 1 lay (someone) off or lay off (someone) : to stop employing (someone) because there is not enough work
▪ The company has had to lay off most of the staff. ▪ Costs have increased and many workers have been laid off. [=let go] — see also layoff 2 lay off (something) informal : to stop doing, using, eating, or drinking (something)
▪ You should lay off the late nights. [=you should stop staying up so late] ▪ My doctor advised me to lay off caffeine. ▪ He's a much nicer person since he laid off the booze. [=since he stopped drinking alcohol] ▪ I need to lay off fatty foods and lose some weight. 3 lay off or lay off (someone) informal : to leave someone alone : to stop annoying someone
▪ I wish you'd just lay off! ▪ Lay off me! [=stop bothering me]
▪ The company has had to lay off most of the staff. ▪ Costs have increased and many workers have been laid off. [=let go] — see also layoff
▪ You should lay off the late nights. [=you should stop staying up so late] ▪ My doctor advised me to lay off caffeine. ▪ He's a much nicer person since he laid off the booze. [=since he stopped drinking alcohol] ▪ I need to lay off fatty foods and lose some weight.
▪ I wish you'd just lay off! ▪ Lay off me! [=stop bothering me]
lay on [phrasal verb] 1 lay (something) on or lay on (something) a : to spread (something) over a surface
▪ Try to lay the grout on the surface evenly. — often used figuratively ▪ (informal) My parents have been laying a lot of guilt on me. [=have been saying things that make me feel guilty] ▪ (informal) If you have something to tell me, just lay it on me. [=just tell me] ▪ He laid the flattery on pretty heavily. ▪ She laid on a fake southern accent. [=she spoke with a southern accent although she doesn't usually speak that way]
b Brit : to provide (something) for someone
▪ If a lot of people want to come, more coaches will be laid on for them. 2 lay it on (thick) informal : to speak in a way that is exaggerated and not sincere
▪ You should compliment her cooking but don't lay it on too thick or she'll know you don't mean it. ▪ He laid it on pretty heavily and pretended to be interested in what she said.
▪ Try to lay the grout on the surface evenly. — often used figuratively ▪ (informal) My parents have been laying a lot of guilt on me. [=have been saying things that make me feel guilty] ▪ (informal) If you have something to tell me, just lay it on me. [=just tell me] ▪ He laid the flattery on pretty heavily. ▪ She laid on a fake southern accent. [=she spoke with a southern accent although she doesn't usually speak that way]
b Brit : to provide (something) for someone
▪ If a lot of people want to come, more coaches will be laid on for them.
▪ You should compliment her cooking but don't lay it on too thick or she'll know you don't mean it. ▪ He laid it on pretty heavily and pretended to be interested in what she said.
lay out [phrasal verb] 1 lay (something) out or lay out (something) a : to place (something) on a surface in a carefully arranged way
▪ The wires were laid out along the floor. ▪ Brochures were laid out on a table. ▪ She was laying out the cheese and crackers for the guests.
b : to arrange (something) in a particular pattern or design
▪ The garden was laid out in a formal pattern. ▪ Much of Manhattan is laid out in the form of a grid. — see also layout
c : to plan the details of (something)
▪ She's been hired to lay out [=map out] the election campaign. ▪ The work for tomorrow is all laid out.
d : to explain the details of (something)
▪ He laid out the reasons for his decision.
e informal : to spend (money)
▪ The city laid out millions of dollars for the new stadium. — see also outlay 2 lay (someone's body) out or lay out (someone's body) : to prepare (someone's dead body) so that it can be seen by family and friends before it is buried
▪ They laid him out in a plain coffin. 3 lay (someone) out or lay out (someone) informal : to make (someone) unconscious : to knock (someone) out
▪ He laid his opponent out with a hard right to the jaw.
▪ The wires were laid out along the floor. ▪ Brochures were laid out on a table. ▪ She was laying out the cheese and crackers for the guests.
b : to arrange (something) in a particular pattern or design
▪ The garden was laid out in a formal pattern. ▪ Much of Manhattan is laid out in the form of a grid. — see also layout
c : to plan the details of (something)
▪ She's been hired to lay out [=map out] the election campaign. ▪ The work for tomorrow is all laid out.
d : to explain the details of (something)
▪ He laid out the reasons for his decision.
e informal : to spend (money)
▪ The city laid out millions of dollars for the new stadium. — see also outlay
▪ They laid him out in a plain coffin.
▪ He laid his opponent out with a hard right to the jaw.
lay over
[phrasal verb] US 1 : to make a stop in the middle of a journey
▪ Our flight to Italy laid over in Madrid for several hours. 2 lay (someone) over : to cause (someone) to stop in the middle of a journey — usually used as (be) laid over ▪ We were laid over in Madrid for several hours. — see also layover
▪ Our flight to Italy laid over in Madrid for several hours.
lay siege to — see siege
lay (someone) to rest — see 2rest
lay up [phrasal verb] 1 lay (something) up or lay up (something) a old-fashioned : to store (something)
▪ lay up [=lay in] grain for the winter
b : to take (something) out of active use or service
▪ We laid up the boat for the winter. 2 lay (someone) up or lay up (someone) : to cause (someone) to stay at home or in bed because of illness or injury
▪ The flu laid him up for two weeks. — usually used as (be) laid up ▪ He was laid up for six weeks with a bad back. ▪ He was laid up by the flu.
▪ lay up [=lay in] grain for the winter
b : to take (something) out of active use or service
▪ We laid up the boat for the winter.
▪ The flu laid him up for two weeks. — usually used as (be) laid up ▪ He was laid up for six weeks with a bad back. ▪ He was laid up by the flu.
lay waste to
: to cause very bad damage to (something)
▪ The fire laid waste to the land. [=the fire caused great destruction to the land]
▪ The fire laid waste to the land. [=the fire caused great destruction to the land]
lay your hands on — see 1hand
the goose that lays the golden egg — see 1goose
