inlay
1 of 2verb
in·lay (ˌ)in-ˈlā 
ˈin-ˌlā
ˈin-ˌlā inlaid (ˌ)in-ˈlād
ˈin-ˌlād
; inlaying transitive verb
1
a
: to set into a surface or ground material
b
: to adorn with insertions
c
: to insert (something, such as a color plate) into a mat or other reinforcement
2
: to rub, beat, or fuse (something, such as wire) into an incision in metal, wood, or stone
inlayer noun
inlay
2 of 2noun
in·lay ˈin-ˌlā
1
: inlaid work or a decorative inlaid pattern
2
: a tooth filling shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into place
Example Sentences
Noun The cabinet doors are decorated with inlays.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Schwartz, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 The New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick, wearing a sweatshirt, sat in his home in Nantucket, at a dining table inlaid with a harlequin diamond pattern, and traded out of the first round. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2020 Subtle and sculptural, the memorial glade features six stone pieces inlaid with steel salvaged trade center steel. Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2019 The drawing room, with a coffered ceiling and a fireplace inlaid with dark green marble, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Emily Nonko, WSJ, 29 Jan. 2020 The triangle is especially important in this belief system, so several of Kerr's pieces feature it in unexpected ways—like a console with a faceted front, or a cabinet with mother of pearl inlaid in a subtle chevron. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 21 Oct. 2019 Needless to say, the pieces are much too pretty to use as anything but decor: Each one was hand-made in Agra, where a family of artisans employed by Shroff dutifully inlaid lapis lazuli, malachite, and other semi-precious stones. Marley Marius, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2019 Rice carved the surface of the bone into interweaving patterns of a turkey head, dogwood blossom and morels, then crushed and inlaid the turquoise. Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 19 Feb. 2020 Elsewhere, a rubber masked Donald Trump went as Vladimir Putin's date, and a couple dressed as a set of Japanese fairy tale characters, wearing head-to-toe robes inlaid with real yellow, pink, and white daisies. Jenna Rennert, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2019 Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 Water resistant to 200 meters, this SeaQ includes a date window at 3 o’clock and a unidirectional bezel with ceramic inlay. Laurie Brookins, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2022 The door consisted of a steel frame with a large glass inlay. Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 7 July 2022 On the first floor, there’s a bright and open living room and dining room with several chandeliers and pillars with marble inlay and detailed woodwork on walls and ceilings. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2022 The stainless-steel crown—also plated in a matching color—features an ocean plastic inlay. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2022 It is fitted with a black rubber strap with textile inlay. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 1 July 2022 Contrary to traditional bands, the company’s offering varies from two-tone tantalum bands and vintage-style diamond bands to five-stone bands and wood-inlay stainless steel bands. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 25 July 2022 The space has bookmatched burl wood paneling and custom-lacquered walnut tables with brass inlay. Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 16 June 2022 See More
Verb
Today, the method is so well established that the museum’s dinosaur halls are organized according to evolutionary ties, and the cladistic trees are inlaid in the floor. John Schwartz, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 The New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick, wearing a sweatshirt, sat in his home in Nantucket, at a dining table inlaid with a harlequin diamond pattern, and traded out of the first round. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2020 Subtle and sculptural, the memorial glade features six stone pieces inlaid with steel salvaged trade center steel. Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2019 The drawing room, with a coffered ceiling and a fireplace inlaid with dark green marble, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Emily Nonko, WSJ, 29 Jan. 2020 The triangle is especially important in this belief system, so several of Kerr's pieces feature it in unexpected ways—like a console with a faceted front, or a cabinet with mother of pearl inlaid in a subtle chevron. Hadley Keller, House Beautiful, 21 Oct. 2019 Needless to say, the pieces are much too pretty to use as anything but decor: Each one was hand-made in Agra, where a family of artisans employed by Shroff dutifully inlaid lapis lazuli, malachite, and other semi-precious stones. Marley Marius, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2019 Rice carved the surface of the bone into interweaving patterns of a turkey head, dogwood blossom and morels, then crushed and inlaid the turquoise. Colin Moore, Outdoor Life, 19 Feb. 2020 Elsewhere, a rubber masked Donald Trump went as Vladimir Putin's date, and a couple dressed as a set of Japanese fairy tale characters, wearing head-to-toe robes inlaid with real yellow, pink, and white daisies. Jenna Rennert, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2019 Noun
Parker attended the show carrying a pink iteration with a green inlay on the intersecting F logo (on her bags, the hardware is interchangeable, and this was plucked from the green version of the bag). Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 Water resistant to 200 meters, this SeaQ includes a date window at 3 o’clock and a unidirectional bezel with ceramic inlay. Laurie Brookins, Robb Report, 1 Aug. 2022 The door consisted of a steel frame with a large glass inlay. Giovana Gelhoren, PEOPLE.com, 7 July 2022 On the first floor, there’s a bright and open living room and dining room with several chandeliers and pillars with marble inlay and detailed woodwork on walls and ceilings. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2022 The stainless-steel crown—also plated in a matching color—features an ocean plastic inlay. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2022 It is fitted with a black rubber strap with textile inlay. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 1 July 2022 Contrary to traditional bands, the company’s offering varies from two-tone tantalum bands and vintage-style diamond bands to five-stone bands and wood-inlay stainless steel bands. Frances Solá-santiago, refinery29.com, 25 July 2022 The space has bookmatched burl wood paneling and custom-lacquered walnut tables with brass inlay. Katherine Clarke, WSJ, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Verb
1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
inlay 1 of 2
verb
in·lay ˈin-ˈlā
inlaid
-ˈlād
; inlaying : to set into a surface for decoration or strengthening
inlay
2 of 2noun
in·lay ˈin-ˌlā
: inlaid work : material used in inlaying
Medical Definition
inlay
noun
in·lay ˈin-ˌlā
1
: a tooth filling shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into place
2
: a piece of tissue (as bone) laid into the site of missing tissue to cover a defect
inlaying
verb
as in insetting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- insetting
- inserting
- installing
- injecting
- interpolating
- intercalating
- cutting in
- weaving
- interposing
- wedging
- interjecting
- working in
- edging in
- interspersing
- larding
- adding
- interlining
- interfiling
- introducing
- thrusting
- insinuating
- attaching
- appending
- shoving
- sandwiching (in or between)
- fitting (in or into)
- cramming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- extracting
- eliminating
- excluding
- withdrawing
- subtracting
- ejecting
- deducting
- expelling
- detaching
- rejecting