lay1
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- pronunciation:
- leI
- features:
- Note
| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
lays, laying, laid |
| definition 1: |
When you lay something, you put it down flat on a surface. You might lay a blanket or towel on the ground so that you can sit on it after you go swimming or if you have a picnic.
Ava was laying the tablecloth on the dining table when the guests arrived.It was getting cold, so Liam's mom laid another quilt on his bed.
- synonyms:
- place, put, rest, set
- similar words:
- assign, deposit, position, seat, stick
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| definition 2: |
When a female bird lays an egg, it means that the bird produces an egg.
Some kinds of chickens lay white eggs, but some lay brown eggs.Alicia found a bird's nest in a bush, and the next day she saw that the bird had laid eggs in it.- synonyms:
- bear, deposit, produce
- similar words:
- afford, create, make, yield
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lay or lie?
Lay means to put or place something on a flat surface.
Lie means to be or stay in a flat position. These words are easy to confuse because their meanings are similar and the past tense of
lie is
lay.Compare:
- Lay the mail on the table.
- He laid the mail on the table.
- Lie down if you are tired.
- Yesterday, I lay down for a short rest.