Definition of Lay

Verb: lay (laid)  ley

1. Cause to have a certain (possibly abstract) location
   "lay your things here";
   - put, set, place, pose, position
    
2. Put in a horizontal position
   "lay the patient carefully onto the bed";
   - put down, repose
    
3. Prepare or position for action or operation
   "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan"
    
4. Produce and deposit (an egg or eggs)
   "This hen doesn't lay"
    
5. Impose as a duty, burden, or punishment
   "lay a responsibility on someone"
    
6. [vulgar] Have sexual intercourse
   - sleep together, love, make out, make love, sleep with, have sex, know [archaic], do it, be intimate, have intercourse, lie with [archaic], bed, have a go at it, get it on, make whoopee, nail [N. Amer]

Adjective: lay  ley

1. Characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy
   "the lay ministry";
   - laic, secular
    
2. Not of or from a profession
   "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease"

Noun: lay  ley

1. A narrative song with a recurrent refrain
   - ballad
    
2. A narrative poem of popular origin
   - ballad
    
3. Position or manner in which something is situated
   - lie
    
4. [vulgar] Slang for sexual intercourse
   - make whoopee

Verb: lie (lay,lain,lying,lies)  lI

1. Be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
    
2. Be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position
   "The sick man lay in bed all day"; "the books are lying on the shelf"
    
3. Originate (in)
   "The problems lie in the social injustices in this country";
   - dwell, consist, lie in
    
4. Be and remain in a particular state or condition
   "lie dormant"
    
5. Have a place in relation to something else
   "The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West";
   - rest
    
6. Assume a reclining position
   "lie down on the bed until you feel better";
   - lie down

See also:
laxnesses
layabout

Anagrams containing the word lay

lay yla ayl