verb , noun
■ verb
/ ˌɪnˈleɪ; NAmE / ( in·lay·ing , in·laid , in·laid / ˌɪnˈleɪd; NAmE /) [ vn ] [ often passive ] inlay A (with B) | inlay B (in / into A) to decorate the surface of sth by putting pieces of wood or metal into it in such a way that the surface remains smooth :
The lid of the box had been inlaid with silver.
■ noun
/ ˈɪnleɪ/ [ C , U ] a design or pattern on a surface made by setting wood or metal into it; the material that this design is made of :
The table was decorated with gold inlay.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense lay something in a place in order to hide or preserve it ): from in- into + lay (verb).