📒 to put somebody/something in a particular position, especially when it is done gently or carefully
- lay somebody/something + adv./prep. He laid a hand on my arm.
- Relatives laid wreaths on the grave.
- She laid the baby down gently on the bed.
📒 to spread something on something; to cover something with a layer of something
- lay A on/over B Before they started they laid newspaper on the floor.
- The grapes were laid to dry on racks.
- They carefully laid a blanket over the body.
📒 to put something down, especially on the floor, ready to be used
- to lay a carpet/cable/pipe
- to lay tiles/bricks
- The first high-speed track was laid between Paris and Lyons.
📒 if a bird, an insect, a fish, etc. lays eggs, it produces them from its body
- The cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds' nests.
- new-laid eggs
- The hens are not laying well (= not producing many eggs).
📒 to arrange knives, forks, plates, etc. on a table ready for a meal
📒 to present a proposal, some information, etc. to somebody for them to think about and decide on
- The bill was laid before Parliament.
📒 to put somebody/something in a particular position or state, especially a difficult or unpleasant one
- to lay a responsibility/burden on somebody
- to lay somebody under an obligation to do something
- Failing to act now will merely lay the burden on future generations.
📒 used with a noun to form a phrase that has the same meaning as the verb related to the noun
- to lay the blame on somebody (= to blame somebody)
- Our teacher lays great stress on good spelling (= stresses it strongly).
- She laid the blame for the crisis at the Prime Minister's door.
📒 to prepare something in detail
- Little did he know they had laid a trap for him.
- She began to lay her plans for her escape.
- Bad weather can upset even the best-laid plans.
📒 to have sex with somebody
- He went out hoping to get laid that night.
📒 to prepare a fire by arranging wood, sticks or coal
📒 to bet money on something; to place a bet
- lay something to lay a bet
- lay something on something She had laid $100 on the favourite.
- I think he’ll come, but I wouldn’t lay money on it.