lay
🇺🇸
/leɪ/
🇬🇧
/leɪ/
verb
B1
to place or put something down gently
She laid the baby on the bed.
B1
to spread something over a surface
They laid newspaper over the floor.
B2
to put something down for use
The workers are laying the foundation.
B2
to produce eggs or offspring
The hens are laying eggs.
R
to arrange items on a table for a meal
She laid the table for dinner.
R
to present a proposal or document
The committee laid the report before the meeting.
R
to put someone or something in a difficult position
His actions laid the company in trouble.
R
to emphasize the importance of something
The teacher lays great stress on grammar.
R
to make plans or arrangements
She is laying her plans for the future.
R
to have sexual intercourse with someone
He got laid after the party.
R
to prepare a fire by arranging materials
Can you lay the fire for me?
R
to bet money on an uncertain outcome
I'll lay you 10 to 1 it won't happen.
adjective
R
not having professional knowledge or training
Lay people often misunderstand the law.
R
not belonging to the religious profession
She is a lay member of the church council.
noun
R
a sexual partner
He's a great lay.
R
a narrative poem often set to music
translation
to place or put something down gently; to spread something over a surface; to put something down for use; to produce eggs or offspring; to arrange items on a table for a meal; to present a proposal or document; to put someone or something in a difficult position; to emphasize the importance of something; to make plans or arrangements; to have sexual intercourse with someone; to prepare a fire by arranging materials; to bet money on an uncertain outcome
not having professional knowledge or training; not belonging to the religious profession
a sexual partner; a narrative poem often set to music
Word Forms
3rd Present
lays
Progressive
laying
Past
laid
Perfect
laid
Plural
lays