Lay
verb
To put something down gently in a flat position.
She laid the book on the table.
Often appears as...
- lay the table
- lay a trap
verb
To put brick or tiles in position in order to build something.
The builders are laying the foundation for the new house.
Often appears as...
- lay bricks
- lay tiles
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To produce eggs from out of the body.
The hen is laying eggs.
Often appears as...
- lay eggs
- hen lay
verb
To prepare carefully and plan in detail.
He is laying plans for his wedding.
Often appears as...
- lay plans
- lay a scheme
adjective
Not having professional qualifications or expertise in a particular subject.
He's a lay person when it comes to matters of law.
Often appears as...
- lay audience
- lay person
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To put something down gently in a flat position.
She laid the book on the table.
Often appears as...
- lay the table
- lay a trap
verb
To put brick or tiles in position in order to build something.
The builders are laying the foundation for the new house.
Often appears as...
- lay bricks
- lay tiles
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To produce eggs from out of the body.
The hen is laying eggs.
Often appears as...
- lay eggs
- hen lay
verb
To prepare carefully and plan in detail.
He is laying plans for his wedding.
Often appears as...
- lay plans
- lay a scheme
adjective
Not having professional qualifications or expertise in a particular subject.
He's a lay person when it comes to matters of law.
Often appears as...
- lay audience
- lay person
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Positioning
Used when positioning objects carefully on a surface.
Please lay the napkins on the table.
Pro Tip 2/3Start of Process
Marks the beginning of an action that requires preparation.
They started to lay the pieces for the puzzle.
Pro Tip 3/3Intentional Placement
Emphasizes deliberate and precise placement, not random.
The gardener lay each stone with care.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Positioning
Used when positioning objects carefully on a surface.
Please lay the napkins on the table.
Pro Tip 2/3Start of Process
Marks the beginning of an action that requires preparation.
They started to lay the pieces for the puzzle.
Pro Tip 3/3Intentional Placement
Emphasizes deliberate and precise placement, not random.
The gardener lay each stone with care.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Positioning
Used when positioning objects carefully on a surface.
Please lay the napkins on the table.
Pro Tip 2/3Start of Process
Marks the beginning of an action that requires preparation.
They started to lay the pieces for the puzzle.
Pro Tip 3/3Intentional Placement
Emphasizes deliberate and precise placement, not random.
The gardener lay each stone with care.
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Video examples
How big is infinity? -...
My fourth grade teacher showed us the whole numbers laid out in a row, and below each we have its double. As you can see, the bottom row contains all the even numbers, and we have a one-to-one match. That is, there are as many even numbers as there are numbers. But what still bothers us is our distress over the fact that even numbers seem to be only part of the whole numbers.
Video examples
Zombie Parasites PIPE Nat...
and that worm can go on to continue its life cycle. So, in that pond or in that stream the worm will go find a mate, it will lay a bunch of eggs, those eggs hatch and they burrow into mosquito larva. And they insist themselves in a mosquito larva, so when the mosquitoes emerge and they fly out,
Video examples
The three different ways...
Despite laying eggs and other adaptations that we associate more with non-mammals, like the duck-bill platypus's webbed feet, bill, and the venomous spur males have on their feet, they are, in fact, mammals. That's because they share the defining characteristics of mammalia
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
laid the groundwork for our understanding of physics and chemistry, blazing trails in oncology, technology, medicine, and nuclear physics, to name a few. For good or ill, her discoveries in radiation launched a new era, unearthing some of science's greatest secrets.
Video examples
Your body language may...
So do you want the high-power leader that's dominant, high on testosterone, but really stress reactive? Probably not, right? You want the person who's powerful and assertive and dominant, but not very stress reactive, the person who's laid back.
Video examples
A whale saved my life PIPE...
Just like this and I just laid on it and I hugged it. I held onto him like this and I hugged it and I laid there forever. I just laid there and he didn't move either. So we swam up to the back of the boat where everyone was crying,
Video examples
An inside look at...
of this environment the boys and girls mixed was a nurturing caring environment he weren't slapped if he made a mistake and this contrast would lay the foundation for an identity crisis for my identity crisis that would manifest
Video examples
The science of skin...
The key to survival lay in their own personal sunscreen manufactured beneath the melanin. The type and amount of melanin in your skin determines whether you'll be more or less protected from the sun.
Video examples
Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth
the foundations of the empire have been laid underground too
Video examples
Top 5 Tiger Moments PIPE...
acting this laid back tells bhagani he's not a threat
Video examples
How big is infinity? -...
My fourth grade teacher showed us the whole numbers laid out in a row, and below each we have its double. As you can see, the bottom row contains all the even numbers, and we have a one-to-one match. That is, there are as many even numbers as there are numbers. But what still bothers us is our distress over the fact that even numbers seem to be only part of the whole numbers.
Video examples
Zombie Parasites PIPE Nat...
and that worm can go on to continue its life cycle. So, in that pond or in that stream the worm will go find a mate, it will lay a bunch of eggs, those eggs hatch and they burrow into mosquito larva. And they insist themselves in a mosquito larva, so when the mosquitoes emerge and they fly out,
Video examples
The three different ways...
Despite laying eggs and other adaptations that we associate more with non-mammals, like the duck-bill platypus's webbed feet, bill, and the venomous spur males have on their feet, they are, in fact, mammals. That's because they share the defining characteristics of mammalia
Video examples
The genius of Marie...
laid the groundwork for our understanding of physics and chemistry, blazing trails in oncology, technology, medicine, and nuclear physics, to name a few. For good or ill, her discoveries in radiation launched a new era, unearthing some of science's greatest secrets.
Video examples
Your body language may...
So do you want the high-power leader that's dominant, high on testosterone, but really stress reactive? Probably not, right? You want the person who's powerful and assertive and dominant, but not very stress reactive, the person who's laid back.
Video examples
A whale saved my life PIPE...
Just like this and I just laid on it and I hugged it. I held onto him like this and I hugged it and I laid there forever. I just laid there and he didn't move either. So we swam up to the back of the boat where everyone was crying,
Video examples
An inside look at...
of this environment the boys and girls mixed was a nurturing caring environment he weren't slapped if he made a mistake and this contrast would lay the foundation for an identity crisis for my identity crisis that would manifest
Video examples
The science of skin...
The key to survival lay in their own personal sunscreen manufactured beneath the melanin. The type and amount of melanin in your skin determines whether you'll be more or less protected from the sun.
Video examples
Best Of Ants PIPE BBC Earth
the foundations of the empire have been laid underground too
Video examples
Top 5 Tiger Moments PIPE...
acting this laid back tells bhagani he's not a threat
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
American Boxer
You know, as a young child, I lay in my bedroom and I swore to myself then: 'I'm not going to smoke and I'm not going to drink.' And I said I'm not going to just say that when I'm a kid. I'm going to stick to that as an adult. I kept that in mind my whole life.
Quote examples
Rainer Maria Rilke
German Poet
One had to take some action against fear when once it laid hold of one.
Quote examples
Flip Wilson
American Comedian
Don't order one for the road, because the road is already laid out.
Quote examples
Ryan Lochte
American Athlete
I'm definitely laid back. I don't take things so seriously.
Quote examples
Kanye West
American Rapper
I don't know what's better gettin' laid or gettin' paid.
Quote examples
Rob Gronkowski
American Athlete
It's football. You're going to get laid out eventually.
Quote examples
Selena Gomez
American Actress
I'm super laid back. I'm from Texas. I love my family.
Quote examples
Madlib
American Musician
I'm a laid back dude, I don't really get excited.
Quote examples
Sadie Sink
American Actress
I've always been laid back, go with the flow.
Quote examples
Quentin Crisp
English Writer
Men get laid, but women get screwed.
Quote examples
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
American Boxer
You know, as a young child, I lay in my bedroom and I swore to myself then: 'I'm not going to smoke and I'm not going to drink.' And I said I'm not going to just say that when I'm a kid. I'm going to stick to that as an adult. I kept that in mind my whole life.
Quote examples
Rainer Maria Rilke
German Poet
One had to take some action against fear when once it laid hold of one.
Quote examples
Flip Wilson
American Comedian
Don't order one for the road, because the road is already laid out.
Quote examples
Ryan Lochte
American Athlete
I'm definitely laid back. I don't take things so seriously.
Quote examples
Kanye West
American Rapper
I don't know what's better gettin' laid or gettin' paid.
Quote examples
Rob Gronkowski
American Athlete
It's football. You're going to get laid out eventually.
Quote examples
Selena Gomez
American Actress
I'm super laid back. I'm from Texas. I love my family.
Quote examples
Madlib
American Musician
I'm a laid back dude, I don't really get excited.
Quote examples
Sadie Sink
American Actress
I've always been laid back, go with the flow.
Quote examples
Quentin Crisp
English Writer
Men get laid, but women get screwed.
Example 1 of 10
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