# inlay

/ˈɪnˌɫeɪ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inlay
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

a decorative pattern or piece of material that is set into the surface of an object. You usually see this on expensive furniture or musical instruments where wood, metal, or stone is fitted into a carved space.

For teachers: a decorative pattern or design created by embedding pieces of contrasting material into a prepared surface. Often refers to the technique used in woodworking, jewellery, or dentistry to fill a recessed area.

## Examples

- The old table has a beautiful silver inlay.
- The craftsman spent weeks fitting the delicate pearl inlay into the neck of the custom guitar.
- Restoration experts discovered that the original marble inlay had been covered by layers of cheap paint during a previous renovation in the nineteenth century.

## Usage notes

- Countable when referring to a specific decorative piece; uncountable when referring to the technique or material in general.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.