~ 1
■ verb ( past and past participle laid )
1》 put down, especially gently or carefully.
2》 put down and set in position for use.
↘ Brit. set cutlery on (a table) in preparation for a meal.
↘put the material for (a fire) in place.
↘prepare (a trap).
↘( ~ something before ) present material for consideration and action to (someone).
3》 (with an abstract noun) put or place: ~ the blame.
4》 (of a female bird, reptile, etc.) produce (an egg) from inside the body.
5》 stake (an amount of money) in a wager.
6》 cause (a ghost) to stop appearing; exorcize.
7》 vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.
8》 trim (a hedge) by cutting the branches half through, bending them down, and interweaving them.
9》 Nautical follow (a specified course).
■ noun
1》 the general appearance of an area of land.
↘the position or direction in which something lies: roll the carpet against the ~ of the nap.
2》 vulgar slang a sexual partner or act of sexual intercourse.
3》 the ~ing of eggs or the period during which they are laid.
Phrases
~ claim to assert one's right to or possession of.
~ hands on find and take possession of or acquire.
~ hold of (or on ) catch at or gain possession of.
~ someone low reduce someone to inactivity, illness, or a lowly position.
~ something on thick (or with a trowel ) informal grossly exaggerate or overemphasize something.
~ someone open to expose someone to the risk of.
~ someone/thing to rest
1》 bury a body in a grave.
2》 soothe and dispel fear, anxiety, etc.
Phrasal verbs
~ about Brit. beat or attack violently.
↘( ~ about one ) strike out wildly on all sides.
~ something down
1》 formulate and enact a rule or principle.
2》 begin to construct a ship or railway.
3》 build up a deposit of a substance.
4》 store wine in a cellar.
5》 pay or bet money.
6》 informal record a piece of music.
~ something in/up build up a stock of something in case of need.
~ into informal attack violently.
~ off informal give up.
~ someone off discharge a worker temporarily or permanently because of a shortage of work.
~ something off
1》 chiefly Soccer pass the ball to a teammate.
2》 (of a bookmaker) insure against a loss resulting from a large bet by placing a similar bet with another bookmaker.
~ something on Brit. provide a service or amenity.
~ someone out
1》 prepare someone for burial after death.
2》 informal knock someone unconscious.
~ something out
1》 spread something out to its full extent.
2》 construct or arrange buildings or gardens according to a plan.
↘arrange and present material for printing and publication.
3》 informal spend a sum of money.
~ someone up put someone out of action through illness or injury.
~ something up
1》 see ~ something in.
2》 take a ship or other vehicle out of service.
Origin
OE lecgan , of Gmc origin; related to lie 1 .
Usage
The words ~ and lie are often used incorrectly. Lay means, broadly, ‘put something down’, as in they are going to ~ the carpet , whereas lie means ‘be in a horizontal position to rest’, as in why don't you lie down? The past tense and the past participle of ~ is laid ( they laid the carpet ); the past tense of lie is ~ ( he ~ on the floor ) and the past participle is lain ( she had lain awake for hours ).
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~ 2
■ adjective
1》 not ordained into or belonging to the clergy.
2》 not having professional qualifications or expert knowledge.
Origin
ME: from OFr. lai , via late L. from Gk laïkos , from laos 'people'.
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~ 3
■ noun
1》 a short lyric or narrative poem meant to be sung.
2》 literary a song.
Origin
ME: from OFr. lai , corresp. to Provençal lais , of unknown origin.
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~ 4
past of lie 1 .