noun a designated area for parking vehicles, often on the side of a road or highway
In construction, a lay by can refer to a temporary storage area for materials or equipment on a job site.
In agriculture, a lay by is a space between rows of crops where weeds are removed or the soil is cultivated.
In transportation, a lay by is a designated stopping area for vehicles to pull off the road safely.
In retail, a lay by refers to a system where a customer pays for an item in installments before taking possession of it.
In the context of a writer, 'lay by' can refer to setting aside a project or idea for a period of time to revisit later with a fresh perspective. It can also refer to including a sidebar or additional information in a piece of writing.
For a psychologist, 'lay by' may refer to temporarily setting aside a particular issue or topic in therapy to focus on other more pressing concerns. It can also be used to describe the act of putting aside personal biases or assumptions in order to better understand a client's perspective.