~ 1
■ verb ( ~s , lying ; past lay ; past participle lain )
1》 be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface.
↘be buried in a particular place.
2》 be or remain in a specified state.
3》 reside or be found: the solution ~s in a return to traditional values.
4》 be situated in a specified position or direction.
5》 Law (of an action, charge, or claim) be admissible or sustainable.
■ noun
1》 the way, direction, or position in which something ~s or comes to rest.
2》 the place of cover of an animal or a bird.
Phrases
let something ~ take no action on a difficult matter.
~ low keep out of sight; avoid attention.
the ~ ( N. Amer. lay ) of the land
1》 the features of an area.
2》 the current situation.
take something lying down [usu. with negative ] accept an insult, setback, or rebuke without protest.
Phrasal verbs
~ in
1》 Brit. remain in bed later than usual.
2》 archaic (of a pregnant woman) go to bed to give birth.
~ off Nautical (of a ship) stand some distance from shore or from another ship.
~ to Nautical (of a ship) come almost to a stop with its head towards the wind.
~ up (of a ship) go into dock or be out of commission.
~ with archaic have sex with.
Origin
OE licgan , of Gmc origin.
Usage
On the distinction between ~ and lay , see usage at lay 1 .
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~ 2
■ noun an intentionally false statement.
↘a situation involving deception or founded on a mistaken impression: she had been living a ~.
■ verb ( ~s , lying , ~d ) tell a ~ or ~s.
↘(of a thing) present a false impression.
Phrases
give the ~ to serve to show that (something assumed to be the case) is not true.
~ through one's teeth informal tell an outright ~.
Origin
OE lyge (n.), lēogan (v.), of Gmc origin.