Definitions for the word "Lay" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. imp.
of Lie, to recline.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. a.
Of or pertaining to the laity, as distinct from the clergy; as, a lay person; a lay preacher; a lay brother.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. a.
Not educated or cultivated; ignorant.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. a.
Not belonging to, or emanating from, a particular profession; unprofessional; as, a lay opinion regarding the nature of a disease.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. n.
The laity; the common people.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. n.
A meadow. See Lea.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. n.
Faith; creed; religious profession.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
A law.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
An obligation; a vow.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. a.
A song; a simple lyrical poem; a ballad.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. a.
A melody; any musical utterance.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. v. t.
To cause to lie down, to be prostrate, or to lie against something; to put or set down; to deposit; as, to lay a book on the table; to lay a body in the grave; a shower lays the dust.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. v. t.
To place in position; to establish firmly; to arrange with regularity; to dispose in ranks or tiers; as, to lay a corner stone; to lay bricks in a wall; to lay the covers on a table.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. v. t.
To prepare; to make ready; to contrive; to provide; as, to lay a snare, an ambush, or a plan.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
15. v. t.
To spread on a surface; as, to lay plaster or paint.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
16. v. t.
To cause to be still; to calm; to allay; to suppress; to exorcise, as an evil spirit.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
17. v. t.
To cause to lie dead or dying.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
18. v. t.
To deposit, as a wager; to stake; to risk.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
19. v. t.
To bring forth and deposit; as, to lay eggs.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
20. v. t.
To apply; to put.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
21. v. t.
To impose, as a burden, suffering, or punishment; to assess, as a tax; as, to lay a tax on land.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
22. v. t.
To impute; to charge; to allege.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
23. v. t.
To impose, as a command or a duty; as, to lay commands on one.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
24. v. t.
To present or offer; as, to lay an indictment in a particular county; to lay a scheme before one.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
25. v. t.
To state; to allege; as, to lay the venue.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
26. v. t.
To point; to aim; as, to lay a gun.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
27. v. t.
To put the strands of (a rope, a cable, etc.) in their proper places and twist or unite them; as, to lay a cable or rope.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
28. v. t.
To place and arrange (pages) for a form upon the imposing stone.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
29. v. t.
To place (new type) properly in the cases.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
30. v. i.
To produce and deposit eggs.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
31. v. i.
To take a position; to come or go; as, to lay forward; to lay aloft.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
32. v. i.
To lay a wager; to bet.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
33. n.
That which lies or is laid or is conceived of as having been laid or placed in its position; a row; a stratum; a layer; as, a lay of stone or wood.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
34. v. t.
A wager.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
35. v. t.
A job, price, or profit.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
36. v. t.
A share of the proceeds or profits of an enterprise; as, when a man ships for a whaling voyage, he agrees for a certain lay.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
37. v. t.
A measure of yarn; a lea. See 1st Lea (a).
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
38. v. t.
The lathe of a loom. See Lathe, 3.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
39. v. t.
A plan; a scheme.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
40. imp.
of Lie
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
41. v.
(past and past part. Laid) 1 place on a surface, esp. Horizontally or in the proper or specified place. 2 put or bring into the required position or state (lay carpet). 3 make by laying (lay foundations). 4 (often absol.) (of a hen bird) produce (an egg). 5 cause to subside or lie flat. 6 (usu. Foll. By on); attribute or impute (blame etc.). 7 prepare or make ready (a plan or trap). 8 prepare (a table) for a meal. 9 arrange the material for (a fire). 10 put down as a wager; stake. 11 (foll. By with) coat or strew (a surface). 12 slang offens. Have sexual intercourse with (esp. A woman). n. 1 way, position, or direction in which something lies. 2 slang offens. Partner (esp. Female) in, or act of, sexual intercourse. lay about one hit out on all sides. Lay aside 1 put to one side. 2 cease to consider. Lay at the door of impute to. Lay bare expose, reveal. Lay claim to claim as one''s own. Lay down 1 put on a flat surface. 2 give up (an office). 3 formulate (a rule). 4 store (wine) for maturing. 5 sacrifice (one''s life). Lay (one''s) hands on obtain, locate. Lay hands on seize or attack. Lay hold of seize. Lay in provide oneself with a stock of. Lay into colloq. Punish or scold harshly. Lay it on thick (or with a trowel) colloq. Flatter or exaggerate grossly. Lay low overthrow or humble. Lay off 1 discharge (unneeded workers) temporarily; make redundant. 2 colloq. Desist. Lay on 1 provide. 2 impose. 3 inflict (blows). 4 spread on (paint etc.). Lay open 1 break the skin of. 2 (foll. By to) expose (to criticism etc.). Lay out 1 spread out, expose to view. 2 prepare (a corpse) for burial. 3 colloq. Knock unconscious. 4 arrange (grounds etc.) According to a design.
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
42. adj.
1 a non-clerical. B not ordained into the clergy. 2 a not professionally qualified. B of or done by such persons. [greek laos people]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
43. n.
1 short poem meant to be sung. 2 song. [french]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
44. slang
a pursuit or practice, a dodge. Term in this sense much used by
thieves.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
45. slang
in wagering, to bet against a man or animal. Betters are divided
in racing slang into layers and takers; they are otherwise known as
bookmakers and backers.
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
46. slang
some, a piece. “Tip me a LAY of pannum,” _i.e._, give me a slice
of bread.—_North._
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
47. slang
to watch; “on the LAY,” on the look-out.—_Shakspeare._
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864
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