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 followed 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 that won the third race.
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. 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. 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 followed by on, at, about, etc.).
33. lie².
34. to plan or scheme (often followed by out).
35. (of the wind) to diminish; subside: When the wind lays, it'll rain.
36. 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.
• a partner in sexual intercourse.
• an instance of sexual intercourse.
39. 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. (in the garment industry) multiple layers of fabric upon which a pattern or guide is placed for production-line cutting.
41. batten³ (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,
• to abandon or put to one side.
• to save for use at a later time; store: to lay aside some money every month.
44. lay away,
• to reserve for later use; save.
• to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat.
• to bury: They laid him away in the tomb.
45. to relax.
46. lay by,
• to put away for future use; store; save: She had managed to lay by money for college from her earnings as a babysitter.
• (of a sailing vessel) to come to a standstill; heave to; lay to.
• to tend (a crop) for the last time, leaving it to mature without further cultivation.
47. lay down,
• to give up; yield: to lay down one's arms.
• to assert firmly; state authoritatively: to lay down rigid rules of conduct.
• to stock; store: to lay down wine.
• to produce or execute (something) successfully; throw down: In the top of the thirteenth inning, Jones laid down a perfect bunt.
• to draw at full size (the lines of a hull), as on the floor of a mold loft; lay off; loft.
48. to wait for in order to attack or surprise; lie in wait for: The police are laying for him.
49. to store away for future use: We laid in a supply of canned goods.
50. to attack physically or verbally; assail: He laid into the opposition with fiery words.
51. lay off,
• to dismiss (an employee), especially temporarily because of slack business.
• to cease or quit: He promised to lay off drinking.
• to stop annoying or teasing: Lay off me, will you?
• to stop work: They laid off at four and went home.
• to put aside or take off.
• to mark off; measure; plot.
• to give or hand over; pass on: They laid off their old sofa on the neighborhood recreation center.
• (of a bookmaker) to transfer all or part of (a wager) to other bookmakers in order to be protected against heavy losses.
• to get rid of or transfer (blame, responsibility, etc.): He tried to lay off the guilt for the crime on his son.
• to sail away from.
• to remain stationary at a distance from.
• lay¹ (def. 47e).
52. lay on,
• to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax.
• to strike blows; attack violently: When the mob became unruly, the police began to lay on.
• to sail toward.
• to row (an oar) with a full stroke.
• to tell, impart, or give to: Let me lay a little good advice on you.
• to provide as a gift, bonus, or treat; give; treat: The owners laid on a Christmas dinner for the employees.
53. lay open,
• to cut open: to lay open an area of tissue with a scalpel.
• to expose; reveal: Her autobiography lays open shocking facts about her childhood.
• to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism: He was careful not to lay himself open to charges of partiality.
54. lay out,
• to extend at length.
• to spread out in order; arrange; prepare.
• to plan; plot; design.
• to ready (a corpse) for burial.
• to spend or contribute (money).
• to knock (someone) down or unconscious.
• to scold vehemently; reprimand: Whenever I come home late from school, my mom really lays me out.
• to make a layout of.
• to absent oneself from school or work without permission or justification; play hooky.
55. lay over,
• to be postponed until action may be taken: The vote will have to be laid over until next week.
• to make a stop, as during a trip: We will have to lay over in Lyons on our way to the Riviera.
56. lay to,
• to check the motion of (a ship).
• to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety.
• to attack vigorously.
• to put forth effort; apply oneself.
57. lay up,
• to put away for future use; store up.
• to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable.
• to retire (a ship) from active use.
• (of a ship) to be retired from active use.
• to construct (a masonry structure): The masons laid the outer walls up in Flemish bond.
• to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material.

58. to have sexual intercourse.
59. (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board.
60. lay about one,
• to strike or aim blows in every direction.
• to proceed to do; set about.
61. lay a course,
• to sail in the desired direction without tacking.
• to proceed according to a plan.
62. (of a sailing vessel) to sail close to the wind.
63. to exaggerate in one's speech or actions, especially 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.
64. low¹ (defs. 50, 51).
65. to try one's best; make a great effort: They laid themselves out to see that the reception would be a success.
66. siege (def. 9).

1. simple past tense of lie².

1. belonging to, pertaining to, or performed by the people or laity, as distinguished from the clergy: a lay sermon.
2. not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, especially the law or medicine.

1. a short narrative or other poem, especially one to be sung.
2. a song.

1. (on a loom) a movable frame that contains the shuttles, the race plate, and the reed, and that by its oscillating motion beats the filling yarn into place.
2. any movable part of a loom.

1. to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie
2. to place, put, or be in a particular state or position
3. to be in a horizontal position; lie
4. to establish as a basis
5. to place or dispose in the proper position
6. to arrange (a table) for eating a meal
7. to prepare (a fire) for lighting by arranging fuel in the grate
8. (of birds, esp the domestic hen) to produce (eggs)
9. to present or put forward
10. to impute or attribute
11. to arrange, devise, or prepare
12. to place, set, or locate
13. to apply on or as if on a surface
14. to impose as a penalty or burden
15. to make (a bet) with (someone)
16. to cause to settle
17. to allay; suppress
18. to bring down forcefully
19. to have sexual intercourse with
20. to bet on (a horse) to lose a race
21. to press down or make smooth
22. to cut (small trunks or branches of shrubs or trees) halfway through and bend them diagonally to form a hedge
23. to arrange and twist together (strands) in order to form (a rope, cable, etc)
24. to apply settings of elevation and training to (a weapon) prior to firing
25. to put (hounds or other dogs) onto a scent
26. another word for inlay
27. to plan, scheme, or devise
28. to move or go, esp into a specified position or direction
29. (formerly) to move alongside a warship to board it
30. lay a course
• to sail on a planned course without tacking
• to plan an action
31. to reveal or explain
32. lay hands on See hands (def. 12)
33. to seize or grasp
34. to make oneself vulnerable (to criticism, attack, etc)
35. to reveal or disclose
36. to besiege (a city, etc)

37. the manner or position in which something lies or is placed
38. taboo, slang
• an act of sexual intercourse
• a sexual partner
39. a portion of the catch or the profits from a whaling or fishing expedition
40. the amount or direction of hoist in the strands of a rope

1. of, involving, or belonging to people who are not clergy
2. nonprofessional or nonspecialist; amateur

1. a ballad or short narrative poem, esp one intended to be sung
2. a song or melody

1. the past tense of lie 2

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