1 VERB If you lay something somewhere, you put it there in a careful, gentle, or neat way. □ [V n prep/adv] Lay a sheet of newspaper on the floor. □ [be V -ed prep/adv] My father's working bench was covered with a cloth and his coffin was laid there. □ [V n prep/adv] Mothers routinely lay babies on their backs to sleep.
2 VERB If you lay the table or lay the places at a table, you arrange the knives, forks, and other things that people need on the table before a meal. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V n] The butler always laid the table. in AM, use set 3 VERB If you lay something such as carpets, cables, or foundations, you put them into their permanent position. □ [V n] A man came to lay the saloon carpet. □ [V n] Public utilities dig up roads to lay pipes.
4 VERB To lay a trap means to prepare it in order to catch someone or something. □ [V n] They were laying a trap for the kidnapper.
5 VERB When a female bird lays an egg, it produces an egg by pushing it out of its body. □ [V n] My canary has laid an egg. □ [V ] Freezing weather in spring hampered the hens' ability to lay.
6 VERB Lay is used with some nouns to talk about making official preparations for something. For example, if you lay the basis for something or lay plans for it, you prepare it carefully. □ [V n] Diplomats meeting in Chile have laid the groundwork for far-reaching environmental regulations. □ [V n] The organisers meet in March to lay plans.
7 VERB Lay is used with some nouns in expressions about accusing or blaming someone. For example, if you lay the blame for a mistake on someone, you say it is their fault, or if the police lay charges against someone, they officially accuse that person of a crime. □ [V n prep] She refused to lay the blame on any one party. □ [V n] Police have decided not to lay charges over allegations of a phone tapping operation.
8 PHRASE If you lay yourself open to criticism or attack, or if something lays you open to it, something you do makes it possible or likely that other people will criticize or attack you. □ The party thereby lays itself open to charges of conflict of interest. □ Such a statement could lay her open to ridicule.
9 to lay something bare → see bare
10 to lay claim to something → see claim
11 to lay something at someone's door → see door
12 to lay eyes on something → see eye
13 to lay a finger on someone → see finger
14 to lay your hands on something → see hand ➊
15 to lay down the law → see law
16 to lay down your life → see life
17 to lay something to rest → see rest ➋
18 to lay siege to something → see siege
▸ lay aside
1 PHRASAL VERB If you lay something aside , you put it down, usually because you have finished using it or want to save it to use later. □ [V n P ] He finished the tea and laid the cup aside. □ [V P n] This allowed Ms. Kelley to lay aside money to start her business.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you lay aside a feeling or belief, you reject it or give it up in order to progress with something. □ [V P n] We must be willing to lay aside prejudice, and actively learn to love one another. [Also V n P ]
▸ lay down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you lay something down , you put it down, usually because you have finished using it. □ [V n P ] Daniel finished the article and laid the newspaper down on his desk. □ [V P n] She laid down her knife and fork and pushed her plate away.
2 PHRASAL VERB If rules or people in authority lay down what people should do or must do, they officially state what they should or must do. □ [V P n] Taxis must conform to the rigorous standards laid down by the police.
3 PHRASAL VERB If someone lays down their weapons, they stop fighting a battle or war and make peace. □ [V P n] The drug-traffickers have offered to lay down their arms.
▸ lay in PHRASAL VERB If you lay in an amount of something, you buy it and store it to be used later. □ [V P n] They began to lay in extensive stores of food supplies.
▸ lay off
1 PHRASAL VERB If workers are laid off , they are told by their employers to leave their job, usually because there is no more work for them to do. [BUSINESS ] □ [be V -ed P ] 100,000 federal workers will be laid off to reduce the deficit. □ [V P n] They did not sell a single car for a month and had to lay off workers. [Also V n P ]
2 → see also layoff
▸ lay on PHRASAL VERB If you lay on something such as food, entertainment, or a service, you provide or supply it, especially in a generous or grand way. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P n] They laid on a superb evening. [Also V n P ]
▸ lay out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you lay out a group of things, you spread them out and arrange them neatly, for example so that they can all be seen clearly. □ [V P n] Grace laid out the knives and forks at the lunch-table. □ [V n P ] She took a deck of cards and began to lay them out.
2 PHRASAL VERB To lay out ideas, principles, or plans means to explain or present them clearly, for example in a document or a meeting. □ [V P n] Maxwell listened closely as Johnson laid out his plan. □ [V n P ] Cuomo laid it out in simple language.