Lay

Pronunciation: /leɪ/

Definitions of lay

noun the way in which something is situated or arranged

Example Sentences

A1 I like to lay on the beach and soak up the sun.

A2 The dog found a comfortable spot to lay in the shade.

B1 The lay of the land made it difficult for the hikers to navigate.

B2 The lay of the fabric was smooth and even, showing the quality of the material.

C1 The lay of the foundation was crucial to the stability of the building.

C2 The lay of the chess pieces on the board indicated a strategic advantage for white.

verb to put something down in a flat position

Example Sentences

A1 I lay down on the grass to relax.

A2 She lays the table for dinner every evening.

B1 The workers laid the foundation for the new building.

B2 The artist laid out all her paints before starting the masterpiece.

C1 The detective laid a trap to catch the criminal.

C2 The CEO laid out the company's strategic plan for the next five years.

Examples of lay in a Sentence

formal The workers will lay the foundation for the new building tomorrow.

informal I'm just going to lay on the couch and watch TV all day.

slang Let's lay low and avoid getting caught by the police.

figurative She decided to lay her worries to rest and focus on the present moment.

Grammatical Forms of lay

• past tense: laid
• plural: lays
• comparative: more lay
• superlative: most lay
• present tense: lay
• future tense: will lay
• perfect tense: have laid
• continuous tense: is laying
• singular: lay
• positive degree: lay
• infinitive: lay
• gerund: laying
• participle: laid

Origin and Evolution of lay

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'lay' originated from Old English 'lecgan' which means 'to place or put down'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'lay' has evolved to have various meanings such as to put something down, to set or place something in a particular position, and to tell a story or spread out for drying or to rest.