verb, laid, lay⋅ing, noun | 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. |
| 5. | to set, place, or apply (often fol. by to or on): to lay hands on a child. |
| 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; bet: He laid $10 on the horse. |
| 19. | to set (a trap). |
| 20. | to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France. |
| 21. | to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth. |
| 22. | to cause to subside: laying the clouds of dust with a spray of water. |
| 23. | Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse with. |
| 24. | to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment. |
| 25. | to form by twisting strands together, as a rope. |
| 26. | Nautical. to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction. |
| 27. | to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation. |
| 28. | to put (dogs) on a scent. |
| 29. | to lay eggs. |
| 30. | to wager or bet. |
| 31. | to apply oneself vigorously. |
| 32. | to deal or aim blows vigorously (usually fol. by on, at, about, etc.). |
| 33. | Nonstandard. lie 2 . |
| 34. | South Midland U.S. to plan or scheme (often fol. by out). |
| 35. | Midland and Southern U.S. (of the wind) to diminish; subside: When the wind lays, it'll rain. |
| 36. | Nautical. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay aloft; to lay close to the wind. |
| 37. | the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the land. |
| 38. | Slang: Vulgar.
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| 39. | Ropemaking. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands. |
| 40. | Also called lay-up, spread. (in the garment industry) multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting. |
| 41. | batten 3 (defs. 1, 2). |
| 42. | a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew. |
| 43. | lay aside,
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| 44. | lay away,
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| 45. | lay back, Slang. to relax. |
| 46. | lay by,
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| 47. | lay down,
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| 48. | lay for, Informal. to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him. |
| 49. | lay in, to store away for future use: We laid in a supply of canned goods. |
| 50. | lay into, Informal. to attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words. |
| 51. | lay off,
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| 52. | lay on,
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| 53. | lay open,
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| 54. | lay out,
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| 55. | lay over,
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| 56. | lay to,
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| 57. | lay up,
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| 58. | get laid, Slang: Vulgar. to have sexual intercourse. |
| 59. | lay aboard, Nautical. (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board. |
| 60. | lay about one,
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| 61. | lay a course,
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| 62. | lay close, Nautical. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind. |
| 63. | lay it on, to exaggerate in one's speech or actions, esp. to engage in exaggerated flattery or reproof: She was glad to be told what a splendid person she was, but they didn't have to lay it on so much. Also, lay it on thick. |
| 64. | lay low. low 1 (defs. 50, 51). |
| 65. | lay oneself out, Informal. to try one's best; make a great effort: They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success. |
| 66. | lay siege to. siege (def. 9). |

lay (sth)
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laid up
Also, sick in bed. Ill and confined to bed, as in I was laid up for a week with the flu, or Sally can't come outside; she's sick in bed. [Mid-1500s]
Put in a safe place, as in The ship was laid up in dock with engine trouble, or The hikers were laid up in a cave during the storm. [Mid-1600s] Also see under lay in; lay someone low.