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lie down

 - 6 dictionary results

lie-down

  [lahy-doun]
Use lie down in a Sentence
–noun Chiefly British.
a nap.
Origin:
1830–40; n. use of v. phrase lie down

lie

2  [lahy] verb, lay, lain, ly⋅ing, noun
–verb (used without object)
1. to be in a horizontal, recumbent, or prostrate position, as on a bed or the ground; recline.
2. (of objects) to rest in a horizontal or flat position: The book lies on the table.
3. to be or remain in a position or state of inactivity, subjection, restraint, concealment, etc.: to lie in ambush.
4. to rest, press, or weigh (usually fol. by on or upon): These things lie upon my mind.
5. to depend (usually fol. by on or upon).
6. to be placed or situated: land lying along the coast.
7. to be stretched out or extended: the broad plain that lies before us.
8. to be in or have a specified direction; extend: The trail from here lies to the west.
9. to be found or located in a particular area or place: The fault lies here.
10. to consist or be grounded (usually fol. by in): The real remedy lies in education.
11. to be buried in a particular spot: Their ancestors lie in the family plot.
12. Law. to be sustainable or admissible, as an action or appeal.
13. Archaic. to lodge; stay the night; sojourn.
–noun
14. the manner, relative position, or direction in which something lies.
15. the haunt or covert of an animal.
16. Golf. the position of the ball relative to how easy or how difficult it is to play.
—Verb phrases
17. lie by,
a. to pause for rest; stop activities, work, etc., temporarily.
b. to lie unused: Ever since the last member of the family died, the old house has lain by.
18. lie down, to assume a horizontal or prostrate position, as for the purpose of resting.
19. lie in, to be confined to bed in childbirth.
20. lie over, to be postponed for attention or action at some future time: The other business on the agenda will have to lie over until the next meeting.
21. lie up,
a. to lie at rest; stay in bed.
b. (of a ship) to dock or remain in dock.
22. lie with,
a. to be the duty or function of: The decision in this matter lies with him.
b. Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.
—Idioms
23. lie down on the job, Informal. to do less than one could or should do; shirk one's obligations.
24. lie in state. state (def. 24).
25. lie low. low 1 (def. 51).
26. lie to, Nautical. (of a ship) to lie comparatively stationary, usually with the head as near the wind as possible.
27. take lying down, to hear or yield without protest, contradiction, or resistance: I refuse to take such an insult lying down.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME lien, liggen, OE licgan; c. G liegen, D liggen, ON liggja, Goth ligan; akin to Gk léchesthai to lie down

Synonyms:
14. place, location, site.

Antonyms:
1, 2. stand.

Usage note:
See lay 1 .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To lie down
lie 1   (lī)   
intr.v.   lay (lā), lain (lān), ly·ing (lī'ĭng), lies

  1. To be or place oneself at rest in a flat, horizontal, or recumbent position; recline: He lay under a tree to sleep.

  2. To be placed on or supported by a surface that is usually horizontal: Dirty dishes lay on the table. See Usage Note at lay1.

  3. To be or remain in a specified condition: The dust has lain undisturbed for years. He lay sick in bed.

    1. To exist; reside: Our sympathies lie with the plaintiff.

    2. To consist or have as a basis. Often used with in: The strength of his performance lies in his training.

  5. To occupy a position or place: The lake lies beyond this hill.

  6. To extend: Our land lies between these trees and the river.

  7. To be buried in a specified place.

  8. Law To be admissible or maintainable.

  9. Archaic To stay for a night or short while.

n.  

  1. The manner or position in which something is situated.

  2. A haunt or hiding place of an animal.

  3. Sports The position of a golf ball that has come to a stop.

  4. To be decided by, dependent on, or up to: The choice lies with you.

  5. Archaic To have sexual intercourse with.

Phrasal Verb(s):
lie downTo do little or nothing: He's lying down on the job.
lie inTo be in confinement for childbirth.
lie to Nautical To remain stationary while facing the wind.
lie with

  1. To be decided by, dependent on, or up to: The choice lies with you.

  2. Archaic To have sexual intercourse with.


Idiom(s):
lie/lay low

  1. To keep oneself or one's plans hidden.

  2. To bide one's time but remain ready for action.


[Middle English lien, from Old English licgan; see legh- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: lie
Pronunciation: 'lI
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Forms: lay /'lA/; lain /'lAn/; ly·ing
: to be sustainable or capable of being maintained : have grounds under the law lie —Scott v. Bradford, 606 Pacific Reporter, Second Series 554 (1979)> lie for misstatements of opinion —W. L. Prosser and W. Pacific Reporter Keeton> lie to the…Circuit Court —D. Q. Posin>—lie in grant : to be transferable legally only by grant
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

lie (lī)
n.
The manner or position in which something is situated, especially the relation that the long axis of a fetus bears to that of its mother.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

lie down

Also, lie down on the job. Be remiss or lazy. For example, They fired Max because he was always lying down on the job. This expression alludes to lying down in the sense of "resting." [Early 1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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