lay

set down; place; past tense of lie
Not to be confused with:lei – a garland of flowers worn around the necklie – rest in a horizontal position; recline

lay¹

L0077600 (lā)v. laid (lād), lay·ing, lays v.tr.1. To cause to lie down: lay a child in its crib.2. a. To place in or bring to a particular position: lay the cloth over the painting.b. To bury.3. To cause to be in a particular condition: The remark laid him open to criticism.4. To put or set down: lay new railroad track.5. To produce and deposit: lay eggs.6. To cause to subside; calm or allay: "chas'd the clouds ... and laid the winds" (John Milton).7. To put up to or against something: lay an ear to the door.8. To put forward as a reproach or an accusation: They laid the blame on us.9. To put or set in order or readiness for use: lay the table for lunch.10. To devise; contrive: lay plans.11. To spread over a surface: lay paint on a canvas.12. To place or give (importance): lay stress on clarity of expression.13. To impose as a burden or punishment: lay a penalty upon the offender.14. To present for examination: lay a case before a committee.15. To put forward as a demand or an assertion: laid claim to the estate.16. Games To place (a bet); wager.17. To aim (a gun or cannon).18. a. To place together (strands) to be twisted into rope.b. To make in this manner: lay up cable.19. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with.v.intr.1. To produce and deposit eggs.2. To bet; wager.3. Nonstandard To lie.4. Nautical To put oneself into the position indicated.n.1. a. The direction the strands of a rope or cable are twisted in: a left lay.b. The amount of such twist.2. The state of one that lays eggs: a hen coming into lay.3. Vulgar Slang a. Sexual intercourse.b. A partner in sexual intercourse.Phrasal Verbs: lay about To strike blows on all sides. lay aside1. To give up; abandon: lay aside all hope of rescue.2. To save for the future: laid aside money for a vacation. lay away1. To reserve for the future; save.2. To put aside and hold for future delivery. lay by1. To save for future use.2. Nautical To remain stationary while heading into the wind. lay down1. To give up and surrender: laid down their arms.2. To specify: laid down the rules.3. To store for the future.4. Nonstandard To lie down. lay for To be waiting to attack: Muggers were laying for the unsuspecting pedestrian in the alley. lay in To store for future use: lay in supplies for an Arctic winter. lay into Informal 1. To scold sharply.2. To attack physically; beat up. lay off1. To terminate the employment of (a worker).2. To mark off: lay off an area for a garden.3. Slang To stop doing something; quit.4. Games To place all or a part of (an accepted bet) with another bookie in order to reduce the risk. lay on1. To apply (something) by or as if by spreading onto a flat surface: laid on a thick Southern accent.2. To prepare, usually in an elaborate fashion; arrange: laid on cocktails for 50 at the last minute.3. To present or reveal to; confront with: "went around talking to people about anything until he could lay his standard question on them" (John Vinocur). lay out1. To arrange according to a plan: laid out the seating of the guests.2. To clothe and prepare (a corpse) for burial.3. To rebuke harshly: She laid me out for breaking the vase.4. To knock to the ground or unconscious: laid out his opponent with a left hook.5. To expend; spend: lay out a fortune on jewelry.6. To display: lay out merchandise; lay the merchandise out. lay over To make a stopover in the course of a journey. lay to Nautical 1. To bring (a ship) to a stop in open water.2. To remain stationary while heading into the wind. lay up1. To stock for future use: lay up supplies for a long journey.2. Informal To confine with an illness or injury: was laid up for a month.3. Nautical To put (a ship) in dock, as for repairs.4. Sports To hit a golf shot less far than one is able so as to avoid a hazard.Idioms: lay down the law To issue orders or instructions sharply or imperiously. lay it on thick Informal To exaggerate or overstate something. lay low1. To keep oneself or one's plans hidden.2. To bide one's time but remain ready for action.3. To cause to be dead or unable to get up from a lying position: How many soldiers were laid low in that battle? The flu has laid low thousands. lay of the land The nature, arrangement, or disposition of something. lay rubber Slang To accelerate a motor vehicle suddenly from a stop so that the wheels spin rapidly. lay waste To ravage: Rebel troops laid waste the town.

[Middle English leien, from Old English lecgan; see legh- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: Lay ("to put, place, or prepare") and lie ("to recline or be situated") have been confused for centuries; evidence exists that lay has been used to mean "lie" since the 1300s. Why? First, there are two lays. One is the base form of the verb lay, and the other is the past tense of lie. Second, lay was once used with a reflexive pronoun to mean "lie" and survives in the familiar line from the child's prayer Now I lay me down to sleep; lay me down is easily shortened to lay down. Third, lay down, as in She lay down on the sofa sounds the same as laid down, as in I laid down the law to the kids. · By traditional usage prescription, these words should be kept distinct according to the following rules. Lay is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. Lay and its principal parts (laid, laying) are correctly used in the following examples: He laid (not lay) the newspaper on the table. The table was laid for four. Lie is an intransitive verb and cannot take an object. Lie and its principal parts (lay, lain, lying) are correctly used in the following examples: She often lies (not lays) down after lunch. When I lay (not laid) down, I fell asleep. The rubbish had lain (not laid) there a week. I was lying (not laying) in bed when he called. · There are a few exceptions to these rules. The phrasal verb lay for and the nautical use of lay, as in lay at anchor, though intransitive, are standard.

lay²

L0077600 (lā)adj.1. Of, relating to, or involving the laity: a lay preacher.2. Not of or belonging to a particular profession; nonprofessional: a lay opinion as to the seriousness of the disease.

[Middle English, from Old French lai, from Late Latin lāicus, from Greek lāikos, of the people, from lāos, the people.]

lay³

L0077600 (lā)n.1. A narrative poem, such as one sung by medieval minstrels; a ballad.2. A song; a tune.

[Middle English, from Old French lai.]

lay⁴

L0077600 (lā)v.Past tense of lie¹.

lay

(leɪ) vb (mainly tr) , lays, laying or laid (leɪd) 1. to put in a low or horizontal position; cause to lie: to lay a cover on a bed. 2. to place, put, or be in a particular state or position: he laid his finger on his lips. 3. (intr) not standard to be in a horizontal position; lie: he often lays in bed all the morning. 4. (sometimes foll by down) to establish as a basis: to lay a foundation for discussion. 5. to place or dispose in the proper position: to lay a carpet. 6. to arrange (a table) for eating a meal7. to prepare (a fire) for lighting by arranging fuel in the grate8. (Zoology) (also intr) (of birds, esp the domestic hen) to produce (eggs)9. to present or put forward: he laid his case before the magistrate. 10. to impute or attribute: all the blame was laid on him. 11. to arrange, devise, or prepare: to lay a trap. 12. to place, set, or locate: the scene is laid in London. 13. to apply on or as if on a surface: to lay a coat of paint. 14. to impose as a penalty or burden: to lay a fine. 15. to make (a bet) with (someone): I lay you five to one on Prince. 16. to cause to settle: to lay the dust. 17. to allay; suppress: to lay a rumour. 18. to bring down forcefully: to lay a whip on someone's back. 19. slang to have sexual intercourse with20. slang to bet on (a horse) to lose a race21. to press down or make smooth: to lay the nap of cloth. 22. (Forestry) to cut (small trunks or branches of shrubs or trees) halfway through and bend them diagonally to form a hedge: to lay a hedge. 23. to arrange and twist together (strands) in order to form (a rope, cable, etc)24. (Military) military to apply settings of elevation and training to (a weapon) prior to firing25. (Hunting) (foll by on) hunting to put (hounds or other dogs) onto a scent26. (Art Terms) another word for inlay27. (intr; often foll by to or out) dialect or informal to plan, scheme, or devise28. (Nautical Terms) (intr) nautical to move or go, esp into a specified position or direction: to lay close to the wind. 29. (Nautical Terms) lay aboard nautical (formerly) to move alongside a warship to board it30. (Nautical Terms) nautical to sail on a planned course without tacking31. to plan an action32. lay bare to reveal or explain: he laid bare his plans. 33. (Ecclesiastical Terms) lay hands on See hands¹²34. lay hold of to seize or grasp35. lay oneself open to make oneself vulnerable (to criticism, attack, etc): by making such a statement he laid himself open to accusations of favouritism. 36. lay open to reveal or disclose37. (Military) lay siege to to besiege (a city, etc)n38. the manner or position in which something lies or is placed39. taboo slang a. an act of sexual intercourseb. a sexual partner40. (Fishing) a portion of the catch or the profits from a whaling or fishing expedition41. the amount or direction of hoist in the strands of a rope[Old English lecgan; related to Gothic lagjan, Old Norse leggja]Usage: In careful English, the verb lay is used with an object and lie without one: the soldier laid down his arms; the Queen laid a wreath; the book was lying on the table; he was lying on the floor. In informal English, lay is frequently used for lie: the book was laying on the table. All careful writers and speakers observe the distinction even in informal contexts

lay

(leɪ) adj1. (Ecclesiastical Terms) of, involving, or belonging to people who are not clergy2. nonprofessional or nonspecialist; amateur[C14: from Old French lai, from Late Latin lāicus, ultimately from Greek laos people]

lay

(leɪ) n1. (Poetry) a ballad or short narrative poem, esp one intended to be sung2. (Music, other) a song or melody[C13: from Old French lai, perhaps of Germanic origin]

lay

(leɪ) vb the past tense of lie²

lay¹

(leɪ)

v. laid, lay•ing,
n. v.t. 1. to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk. 2. to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low. 3. to put or place in a particular position: The dog laid its ears back. 4. to cause to be in a particular state or condition: Their motives were laid bare; We laid their doubts at rest. 5. to set, place, or apply (often fol. by to or on): to lay a hand on someone. 6. to dispose or place in proper position or in an orderly fashion: to lay bricks. 7. to place on, along, or under a surface: to lay a pipeline. 8. to establish as a basis; set up: to lay the foundations for further negotiations. 9. to present or submit for notice or consideration: I laid my case before the commission. 10. to present, bring forward, or make, as a claim or charge. 11. to impute, attribute, or ascribe: to lay blame on the inspector. 12. to bury: They laid him in the old churchyard. 13. to bring forth and deposit (an egg or eggs). 14. to impose as a burden, duty, penalty, or the like: to lay an embargo on oil shipments. 15. to place dinner service on (a table); set. 16. to place on or over a surface, as paint; cover or spread with something else. 17. to devise or arrange, as a plan. 18. to deposit as a wager; stake: He laid $10 on the horse. 19. to bet (someone): I'll lay you ten to one that we win. 20. to set (a trap). 21. to place, set, or locate: The scene is laid in France. 22. to smooth down or make even: to lay the nap of cloth. 23. to quiet or make vanish: to lay a ghost. 24. to cause to subside: A light rain layed the dust. 25. Vulgar Slang. to have sexual intercourse with. 26. to bring (a stick, lash, etc.) down, as on a person, in inflicting punishment. 27. to form by twisting strands together, as a rope. 28. to move or turn (a sailing vessel) into a certain position or direction. 29. to aim a cannon in a specified direction at a specified elevation. 30. to put (dogs) on a scent. v.i. 31. to lay eggs. 32. to wager or bet. 33. to apply oneself vigorously. 34. to deal or aim blows vigorously (usu. fol. by on, at, about, etc.). 35. Nonstandard. lie ². 36. South Midland U.S. to plan or scheme (often fol. by out). 37. Naut. to take up a specified position, direction, etc.: to lay close to the wind. 38. lay aboard, (formerly, of a fighting ship) to come alongside (another fighting ship) in order to board. 39. lay aside, a. to abandon; reject. b. to save for use at a later time; store. 40. lay away, a. to reserve for later use; save. b. to hold merchandise pending final payment or request for delivery: to lay away a winter coat. c. to bury (someone). 41. lay back, Slang. to relax. 42. lay by, to put away for future use; store; save: She had managed to lay by money for college. 43. lay down, a. to give up; hand over; yield. b. to assert firmly; state authoritatively. c. to stock; store: to lay down wine. 44. lay for, to wait for in hiding in order to ambush. 45. lay in, to store away for future use. 46. lay into, to attack physically or verbally. 47. lay off, a. to dismiss (an employee), esp. temporarily because of slack business. b. Informal. to cease or quit. c. Slang. to stop annoying or teasing. d. Informal. to stop work. e. to stop or stop using: to lay off drinking. f. to mark off; measure; plot. g. to transfer (part of a wager) to other bookmakers, for protection against losses. h. to transfer (blame or responsibility) to another. 48. lay on, a. to cover with; apply: to lay on a coat of wax. b. to strike blows; attack violently. 49. lay open, a. to cut open. b. to expose; reveal. c. to expose or make vulnerable, as to blame, suspicion, or criticism. 50. lay out, a. to extend at length. b. to spread out in order; arrange; prepare. c. to plan; plot; design. d. to ready (a corpse) for burial. e. Informal. to spend or contribute (money). f. Slang. to knock (someone) down or unconscious. g. Slang. to scold vehemently; reprimand. h. to make a layout of. 51. lay over, a. to postpone. b. to make a stopover. 52. lay to, a. to check the motion of (a ship). b. to put (a ship) in a dock or other place of safety. c. to attack vigorously. d. to put forth effort; apply oneself. 53. lay up, a. to put away for future use; store up. b. to cause to be confined to bed or kept indoors; disable. c. to construct (a masonry structure). d. to apply (alternate layers of a material and a binder) to form a bonded material. n. 54. the way or position in which a thing is laid or lies: the lay of the south pasture. 55. Vulgar Slang. a. a partner in sexual intercourse. b. an instance of sexual intercourse. 56. the quality of a fiber rope characterized by the degree of twist, the angles formed by the strands, and the fibers in the strands. 57. a share of the profits or the catch of a whaling or fishing voyage, distributed to officers and crew. Idioms: 1. get laid, Vulgar Slang. to have sexual intercourse with someone. 2. lay bare, to uncover; reveal; disclose. 3. lay it on (thick), to flatter someone or boast extravagantly; exaggerate. [before 900; Middle English layen,leggen, Old English lecgan (causative of licgan to lie²), c. Old Saxon leggian, Old High German lecken, legen, Old Norse legja, Gothic lagjan] usage: lay and lie are often confused. lay is most commonly a transitive verb and takes an object. Its forms are regular. If “place” or “put” can be substituted in a sentence, a form of lay is called for: Lay the folders on the desk. She laid the baby in the crib. lay also has several intransitive senses, among them “to lay eggs” ( The hens have stopped laying), and it forms many phrasal verbs, such as lay off. ― lie, with the overall senses “to be in a horizontal position, recline” and “to rest, remain, be situated, etc.,” is intransitive and takes no object. Its forms are irregular; its past tense form is identical with the present tense or infinitive form of lay: Lie down, children. Abandoned cars were lying along the road.The dog lay in the shade. The folders have lain on the desk since yesterday. Substitution of forms of lay for those of lie occur in all but the most formal speech and writing, but constructions like the following are generally considered incorrect: Can you lay down? The dog laid in the shade. Abandoned cars were laying along the road. The folders have laid on the desk since yesterday.

lay²

(leɪ)

v. pt. of lie ² .

lay³

(leɪ)

adj. 1. belonging to, involving, or performed by the laity, as distinguished from the clergy: a lay sermon. 2. not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, esp. the law or medicine: a lay opinion on a legal case. [1300–50; Middle English < Middle French lai < Medieval Latin lāicus laic]

lay⁴

(leɪ)

n. 1. a short narrative or other poem. 2. a song. [1200–50; Middle English lai < Old French, perhaps < Celtic; compare Old Irish láed, laíd poem, lay]

lay

lay - As in layperson, it derives from Greek laikos, "of the people"—as opposed to clerics.
nest egg - Poultry farmers formerly placed a porcelain or other fake egg in a hen's nest to encourage it to lay more eggs—from this came nest egg, money saved to encourage the making of more.
lay, lie - To lay is to place something; to lie is to recline.
oviposit - To lay an egg.

lay

1. Direct or adjust the aim of a weapon.
2. Setting of a weapon for a given range, a given direction, or both.
3. To drop one or more aerial bombs or aerial mines onto the surface from an aircraft.
4. To spread a smoke screen on the ground from an aircraft.
5. To calculate or project a course.
6. To lay on: a. to execute a bomber strike; b. to set up a mission.

lay

lie">lie1. 'lay'

Lay is a transitive verb, and it is also a past tense of another verb, lie.

To lay something somewhere means to put it there carefully or neatly.

Lay a sheet of newspaper on the floor.

The other forms of lay are lays, laying, laid.

Michael laid the box on the table gently.'I couldn't get a taxi,' she said, laying her hand on Nick's sleeve.2. 'lie'

Lie is an intransitive verb with two different meanings.

To lie somewhere means to be there in a horizontal position, or to get into that position.

She would lie on the floor, listening to music.

When lie is used like this, its other forms are lies, lying, lay, lain. The -ed participle lain is rarely used.

The baby was lying on the table.I lay in bed listening to the rain.

To lie means to say or write something which you know is untrue. When lie is used like this, its other forms are lies, lying, lied.

Why did he lie to me?Robert was sure that Thomas was lying.He had lied about where he had been that night.

lay

Past participle: laid
Gerund: laying

Imperative
lay
lay

Present
I lay
you lay
he/she/it lays
we lay
you lay
they lay

Preterite
I laid
you laid
he/she/it laid
we laid
you laid
they laid

Present Continuous
I am laying
you are laying
he/she/it is laying
we are laying
you are laying
they are laying

Present Perfect
I have laid
you have laid
he/she/it has laid
we have laid
you have laid
they have laid

Past Continuous
I was laying
you were laying
he/she/it was laying
we were laying
you were laying
they were laying

Past Perfect
I had laid
you had laid
he/she/it had laid
we had laid
you had laid
they had laid

Future
I will lay
you will lay
he/she/it will lay
we will lay
you will lay
they will lay

Future Perfect
I will have laid
you will have laid
he/she/it will have laid
we will have laid
you will have laid
they will have laid

Future Continuous
I will be laying
you will be laying
he/she/it will be laying
we will be laying
you will be laying
they will be laying

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been laying
you have been laying
he/she/it has been laying
we have been laying
you have been laying
they have been laying

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been laying
you will have been laying
he/she/it will have been laying
we will have been laying
you will have been laying
they will have been laying

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been laying
you had been laying
he/she/it had been laying
we had been laying
you had been laying
they had been laying

Conditional
I would lay
you would lay
he/she/it would lay
we would lay
you would lay
they would lay

Past Conditional
I would have laid
you would have laid
he/she/it would have laid
we would have laid
you would have laid
they would have laid

lay

A short narrative poem, usually meant to be sung.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	lay - a narrative song with a recurrent refrainballadsong, vocal - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs"minstrelsy - ballads sung by minstrels
	2.	lay - a narrative poem of popular origin balladpoem, verse form - a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical linesEdda - either of two distinct works in Old Icelandic dating from the late 13th century and consisting of 34 mythological and heroic ballads composed between 800 and 1200; the primary source for Scandinavian mythology
Verb	1.	lay - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point"place, put, set, position, poseput in, stick in, inclose, insert, introduce, enclose - introduce; "Insert your ticket here"docket - place on the docket for legal action; "Only 5 of the 120 cases docketed were tried"cock - set the trigger of a firearm back for firingpostpose - place after another constituent in the sentence; "Japanese postposes the adpositions, whereas English preposes them"prepose - place before another constituent in the sentence; "English preposes the adpositions; Japanese postposes them"step - place (a ship's mast) in its stepput back, replace - put something back where it belongs; "replace the book on the shelf after you have finished reading it"; "please put the clean dishes back in the cabinet when you have washed them"stratify - form, arrange, or deposit in layers; "The fish are stratified in barrels"; "The rock was stratified by the force of the water"; "A statistician stratifies the list of names according to the addresses"plant - place something or someone in a certain position in order to secretly observe or deceive; "Plant a spy in Moscow"; "plant bugs in the dissident's apartment"intersperse - place at intervals in or among; "intersperse exclamation marks in the text"snuggle, nestle - position comfortably; "The baby nestled her head in her mother's elbow"pile - place or lay as if in a pile; "The teacher piled work on the students until the parents protested"arrange, set up - put into a proper or systematic order; "arrange the books on the shelves in chronological order"superimpose, superpose, lay over - place on top of; "can you superimpose the two images?"superpose - place (one geometric figure) upon another so that their perimeters coincidepark - place temporarily; "park the car in the yard"; "park the children with the in-laws"; "park your bag in this locker"ensconce, settle - fix firmly; "He ensconced himself in the chair"dispose - place or put in a particular order; "the dots are unevenly disposed"emplace - put into place or position; "the box with the ancestors' ashes was emplaced on the top shelf of the house altar"emplace - provide a new emplacement for gunsship - place on board a ship; "ship the cargo in the hold of the vessel"underlay - put (something) under or beneath; "They underlaid the shingles with roofing paper"trench - set, plant, or bury in a trench; "trench the fallen soldiers"; "trench the vegetables"pigeonhole - place into a small compartmentshelve - place on a shelf; "shelve books"jar - place in a cylindrical vessel; "jar the jam"repose - to put something (eg trust) in something; "The nation reposed its confidence in the King"sign - place signs, as along a road; "sign an intersection"; "This road has been signed"middle - put in the middleparallelize - place parallel to one anotherbutt - place end to end without overlapping; "The frames must be butted at the joints"recess - put into a recess; "recess lights"reposition - place into another positionthrow, thrust - place or put with great energy; "She threw the blanket around the child"; "thrust the money in the hands of the beggar"tee, tee up - place on a tee; "tee golf balls"rack up - place in a rack; "rack pool balls"coffin - place into a coffin; "her body was coffined"bed - put to bed; "The children were bedded at ten o'clock"appose - place side by side or in close proximityplace down, put down, set down - cause to sit or seat or be in a settled position or place; "set down your bags here"sow, seed - place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth; "She sowed sunflower seeds"misplace - place or position wrongly; put in the wrong position; "misplaced modifiers"juxtapose - place side by side; "The fauvists juxtaposed strong colors"set down - put or settle into a position; "The hotel was set down at the bottom of the valley"bottle - put into bottles; "bottle the mineral water"bucket - put into a bucketbarrel - put in barrelsground - place or put on the groundpillow, rest - rest on or as if on a pillow; "pillow your head"mislay, misplace, lose - place (something) where one cannot find it again; "I misplaced my eyeglasses"upend - set, turn, or stand on end; "upend the box and empty the contents"seat, sit down, sit - show to a seat; assign a seat for; "The host seated me next to Mrs. Smith"seat - place in or on a seat; "the mother seated the toddler on the high chair"
	2.	lay - put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"put down, reposelay, place, put, set, position, pose - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point"rail - lay with rails; "hundreds of miles were railed out here"lay - lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay"blow - lay eggs; "certain insects are said to blow"entomb, inhume, inter, lay to rest, bury - place in a grave or tomb; "Stalin was buried behind the Kremlin wall on Red Square"; "The pharaohs were entombed in the pyramids"; "My grandfather was laid to rest last Sunday"rebury - bury again; "After the king's body had been exhumed and tested to traces of poison, it was reburied in the same spot"superimpose, superpose, lay over - place on top of; "can you superimpose the two images?"lay aside, save up, save - accumulate money for future use; "He saves half his salary"cache, hive up, hoard, lay away, squirrel away, stash - save up as for future use
	3.	lay - prepare or position for action or operation; "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan"machinate, devise, prepare, organise, organize, get up - arrange by systematic planning and united effort; "machinate a plot"; "organize a strike"; "devise a plan to take over the director's office"
	4.	lay - lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay"spawn - lay spawn; "The salmon swims upstream to spawn"lay, put down, repose - put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"
	5.	lay - impose as a duty, burden, or punishment; "lay a responsibility on someone"levy, impose - impose and collect; "levy a fine"
Adj.	1.	lay - characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry"laic, secularprofane, secular - not concerned with or devoted to religion; "sacred and profane music"; "secular drama"; "secular architecture", "children being brought up in an entirely profane environment"
	2.	lay - not of or from a profession; "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease"nonprofessional - not professional; not engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or for gain; "the nonprofessional wives of his male colleagues"; "nonprofessional actors"

lay

¹verb1. place, put, set, spread, plant, establish, settle, leave, deposit, put down, set down, posit Lay a sheet of newspaper on the floor.2. devise, plan, design, prepare, work out, plot, hatch, contrive, concoct They were laying a trap for the kidnapper.3. produce, bear, deposit Freezing weather hampered the hen's ability to lay eggs.4. arrange, prepare, make, organize, position, locate, set out, devise, put together, dispose, draw up The organisers meet in March to lay plans.5. attribute, charge, assign, allocate, allot, ascribe, impute She refused to lay the blame on any one party.6. put forward, offer, present, advance, lodge, submit, bring forward Police have decided not to lay charges over allegations of phone tapping.7. bet, stake, venture, gamble, chance, risk, hazard, wager, give odds I wouldn't lay bets on his remaining manager after the spring.lay into someone (Informal) attack, hit, set about, hit out at, assail, tear into, pitch into (informal), go for the jugular, lambast(e), belabour, lash into, let fly at A mob of women laid into him with handbags and pointed shoes.lay it on thick (Slang) exaggerate, flatter, overdo it, lay it on with a trowel (informal), overpraise, soft- (informal) Don't lay it on too thick, but make sure they are flattered.lay off (Informal) stop, give up, quit, cut it out, leave alone, pack in, abstain, leave off, give over (informal), let up, get off someone's back (informal), give it a rest (informal) He went on attacking her until other passengers arrived and told him to lay off.lay someone off dismiss, fire (informal), release, drop, sack (informal), pay off, discharge, oust, let go, make redundant, give notice to, give the boot to (slang), give the sack to (informal), give someone their cards, give someone his or her P45 (informal) 100,000 federal workers will be laid off to reduce the deficit.lay someone out (Informal) knock out, fell, floor, knock unconscious, knock for six, kayo (slang) He turned round, marched over to the man, and just laid him out.lay someone up (Informal) confine (to bed), hospitalize, incapacitate He was recovering from a knee injury that laid him up for six months.lay something aside abandon, reject, dismiss, postpone, shelve, put off, renounce, put aside, cast aside All animosities were laid aside for the moment.lay something bare reveal, show, expose, disclose, unveil, divulge The clearing out of disused workshops laid bare thousands of glazed tiles.lay something down1. stipulate, state, establish, prescribe, assume, formulate, affirm, ordain, set down, postulate The Companies Act lays down a set of minimum requirements.2. sacrifice, give up, yield, surrender, turn over, relinquish The drug traffickers have offered to lay down their arms.lay something in store (up), collect, build up, accumulate, buy in, amass, stockpile, hoard, stock up, heap up They began to lay in extensive stores of food supplies.lay something on provide, prepare, supply, organize, give, cater (for), furnish, purvey They laid on a superb meal.lay something out1. arrange, order, design, display, exhibit, put out, spread out She took a deck of cards and began to lay them out.2. present, explain, describe, show, unfold, spell out We listened carefully as he laid out his plan.3. (Informal) spend, pay, invest, fork out (slang), expend, shell out (informal), disburse You won't have to lay out a fortune for this dining table.

lay

²adjective1. nonclerical, secular, non-ordained, laic, laical He is a Methodist lay preacher and social worker.2. nonspecialist, amateur, unqualified, untrained, inexpert, nonprofessional It is difficult for a lay person to gain access to medical libraries.

lay

³noun poem, song, lyric, ballad, ode Yeats used Comyn's `The Lay of Oisin on the Land of Youth' as a source.

lay¹

verb1. To place (a story, for example) in a designated setting:set.2. To deposit in a specified place:place, put, set, stick.3. To place (a corpse) in or as if in a grave:bury, entomb, inhume, inter.Idiom: lay to rest.4. To regard as belonging to or resulting from another:accredit, ascribe, assign, attribute, charge, credit, impute, refer.5. To arrange tableware upon (a table) in preparation for a meal:set, spread.6. To form a strategy for:blueprint, cast, chart, conceive, contrive, design, devise, formulate, frame, plan, project, scheme, strategize, work out.Informal: dope out.Idiom: lay plans.7. To bring forward for formal consideration:adduce, cite, present.Archaic: allege.8. To put up as a stake in a game or speculation.Also used with down:bet, gamble, post, put, risk, stake, venture, wager.Informal: go.9. To make a bet:bet, gamble, game, play, wager.Idiom: put one's money on something.10. Military. To move (a weapon or blow, for example) in the direction of someone or something:aim, cast, direct, head, level, point, set, train, turn, zero in.phrasal verb
lay asideTo reserve for the future:keep, lay away, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.phrasal verb
lay away1. To reserve for the future:keep, lay aside, lay by, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.2. To place (money) in a bank:bank, deposit, salt away.Informal: sock away.phrasal verb
lay byTo reserve for the future:keep, lay aside, lay away, lay in, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.phrasal verb
lay down1. To let (something) go:abandon, cede, forgo, relinquish, surrender, yield.2. To set forth expressly and authoritatively:decree, dictate, fix, impose, ordain, prescribe.Idioms: call the shots, lay it on the line.phrasal verb
lay forInformal. To wait concealed in order to attack (someone):Idioms: lay wait for, lie in wait for.phrasal verb
lay in1. To reserve for the future:keep, lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay up, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.2. To accumulate and set aside for future use:lay up, save (up), stockpile, store (up).phrasal verb
lay intoSlang. To punish with blows or lashes:beat, flog, hide, lash, thrash, whip.Informal: trim.Slang: lick.phrasal verb
lay offSlang. To cease trying to accomplish or continue:abandon, break off, desist, discontinue, give up, leave off, quit, relinquish, remit, stop.Informal: swear off.Idioms: call it a day, call it quits, hang up one's fiddle, have done with, throw in the towel.phrasal verb
lay out1. To plan the details or arrangements of:arrange, prepare, schedule, work out.2. To work out and arrange the parts or details of:blueprint, design, map (out), plan, set out.3. To show graphically the direction or location of, as by using coordinates:chart, map (out), plot.4. To distribute (money) as payment:disburse, expend, give, outlay, pay (out), spend.Informal: fork out (or over) (or up), shell out.phrasal verb
lay up1. To reserve for the future:keep, lay aside, lay away, lay by, lay in, put by, salt away, save (up), set by.2. To accumulate and set aside for future use:lay in, save (up), stockpile, store (up).

lay²

adjectiveNot religious in subject matter, form, or use:profane, secular, temporal, worldly.

Translations

下下蛋世俗的以某物打赌外行的

lay¹

(lei) – past tense, past participle laid (leid) – verb1. to place, set or put (down), often carefully. She laid the clothes in a drawer / on a chair; He laid down his pencil; She laid her report before the committee.小心地放2. to place in a lying position. She laid the baby on his back.平放3. to put in order or arrange. She went to lay the table for dinner; to lay one's plans / a trap.布置4. to flatten. The animal laid back its ears; The wind laid the corn flat.把...压平5. to cause to disappear or become quiet. to lay a ghost / doubts.消除6. (of a bird) to produce (eggs). The hen laid four eggs; My hens are laying well. 下（蛋） 7. to bet. I'll lay five pounds that you don't succeed.以某物打赌ˈlayer noun1. a thickness or covering. The ground was covered with a layer of snow; There was a layer of clay a few feet under the ground.层2. something which lays, especially a hen. a good layer.蛋鸡 verb to put, cut or arrange in layers. She had her hair layered by the hairdresser.整理成形ˈlayabout noun a lazy, idle person. 游手好闲之徒，懒惰者 ˈlay-by – plural ˈlay-bys – nounespecially in Britain, a short extra part at the side of a road for people to stop their cars in, out of the way of the traffic. （英）路侧停车带（供途中紧急停车） ˈlayout noun the manner in which something is displayed or laid out. the layout of the building. 布局，版面设计，布置 laid up ill in bed. When I caught flu, I was laid up for a fortnight.卧床lay aside to put away or to one side, especially to be used or dealt with at a later time. She laid the books aside for later use. 把...放在一边，暂时搁置一边 lay bare to show clearly; to expose to view. They dug up the road and laid bare the water-pipe; Shy people don't like to lay bare their feelings.暴露lay by to put away for future use. She laid by a store of tinned vegetables.把...留待后用lay down1. to give up. They laid down their arms; The soldiers laid down their lives in the cause of peace. 放下，献出 2. to order or instruct. The rule book lays down what should be done in such a case.规定3. to store. My father laid down a good stock of wine which I am now drinking.贮藏lay (one's) hands on1. to find or be able to obtain. I wish I could lay (my) hands on that book!得到2. to catch. The police had been trying to lay hands on the criminal for months.抓到lay in to get and store a supply of. I've laid in an extra stock of drinks for Christmas.贮存lay low to make ill. I was laid low by flu, just before my exams.生病lay off to dismiss (employees) temporarily. Because of a shortage of orders, the firm has laid off a quarter of its workforce. 暂时解雇，裁员 lay on to provide. The staff laid on a tea party for the pupils. 组织，安排 lay out1. to arrange over a wide area (especially according to a plan). He was the architect who laid out the public gardens.设计2. to spread so as to be easily seen. He laid out the contents of the box on the table.摆开3. to knock unconscious. 打昏4. to spend (money). 花（钱） 5. to prepare (a dead body) to be buried. 为（尸体）作殡葬准备 lay up1. to keep or store. We laid up a good supply of apples this year from our own trees.贮存2. to put (a ship) out of use in a dock. 放置不用，（将船）闲置于码头 lay waste to make (a piece of land) into barren country by burning and plundering. 损毁

lay needs an object and has laid as its past tense and past participle: He (had) laid his book down ; He will be laying his proposals before the committee tomorrow .
lie takes no object and has lying as its present participle, lay as its past tense and lain as its past participle: Please lie down ; He lay down ; He had lain there for hours .
lie , to be untruthful, has lying as its present participle, and lied as its past tense and past participle: She (has always) lied about her age .

lay³

(lei) adjective1. not a member of the clergy. lay preachers.世俗的2. not an expert or a professional (in a particular subject). Doctors tend to use words that lay people don't understand.外行的ˈlayman noun a lay person. 外行

lay⁴

(lei) noun an epic poem. 短叙事诗

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verb place

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verb devise

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verb produce

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verb arrange

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verb attribute

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verb put forward

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verb bet

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phrase lay into someone

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phrase lay it on thick

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phrase lay off

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phrase lay someone off

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phrase lay someone out

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phrase lay someone up

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phrase lay something aside

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phrase lay something bare

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phrase lay something down: stipulate

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