lay

Ⅰ.

lay [1] ► VERB (past and past part. laid) 1) put down, especially gently or carefully. 2) put down and set in position for use. 3) assign or place: lay the blame. 4) (lay before) present (material) for consideration and action to. 5) (of a female bird, reptile, etc.) produce (an egg) from inside the body. 6) stake (an amount of money) in a wager. 7) cause (a ghost) to stop appearing; exorcize. 8) vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.

► NOUN 1) the general appearance of an area of land. 2) the position or direction in which something lies. 3) vulgar slang a sexual partner or act of sexual intercourse.

● lay about one — Cf. ↑lay about one

● lay claim to — Cf. ↑lay claim to

● lay down — Cf. ↑lay down

● lay in/up — Cf. ↑lay up

● lay into — Cf. ↑lay into

● lay off — Cf. ↑lay off

● lay on — Cf. ↑lay on

● lay open to — Cf. ↑lay open to

● lay something on thick (or with a trowel) — Cf. ↑lay something on with a trowel

● lay out — Cf. ↑lay out

● lay to rest — Cf. ↑lay to rest

● lay up — Cf. ↑lay up

USAGE The words lay and lie are often used incorrectly. You lay something, as in they are going to lay the carpet, but you lie down on a bed or other flat surface. The past tense and past participle of lay is laid, as in they laid the groundwork or she had laid careful plans; the past tense of lie is lay (he lay on the floor) and the past participle is lain (she had lain on the bed for hours).

ORIGIN Old English, related to LIE(Cf. ↑lie).

Ⅱ.

lay [2] ► ADJECTIVE 1) not ordained into or belonging to the clergy. 2) not having professional qualifications or expert knowledge.

ORIGIN Latin laicus, from Greek laos 'people' .

Ⅲ.

lay [3] ► NOUN 1) a short lyric or narrative poem intended to be sung. 2) literary a song.

ORIGIN Old French lai.