# lay

/ˈɫeɪ/ (US) · /lˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lay
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. past tense of lie

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of 'lie' (to be in a flat position).

For teachers: the simple past tense form of the intransitive verb 'lie', indicating a state of horizontal rest in the past.

- He was so tired that he lay on the sofa and fell asleep immediately.
- The old documents lay forgotten in the attic for decades before the historian discovered them.

Usage: This is the past tense of 'lie', not 'lay'. It does not take an object.

### 3. to produce eggs

verb · CEFR A2

when a bird or insect produces an egg from its body.

For teachers: to produce and deposit eggs from the body.

- The chickens lay fresh eggs every morning in the barn.
- Sea turtles return to the same beach every year to lay their eggs in the sand.

### 4. to prepare a plan

verb · CEFR B2

to prepare or arrange a plan or a trap.

For teachers: to formulate or set out a plan, scheme, or foundation.

- They need to lay a solid plan before they start the new business.
- The general spent weeks laying the foundations for the upcoming winter campaign.

### 5. non-professional

adjective · CEFR B2

describing someone who is not a professional or an expert in a specific subject.

For teachers: relating to people who are not members of the clergy or not experts in a particular professional field.

- The book explains complex science in a way that a lay person can understand.
- The committee included both medical experts and lay members to ensure a balanced perspective.

### 6. a poem or song

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a short poem or song that tells a story.

For teachers: a lyrical, narrative poem or ballad, often intended to be sung.

- The minstrel sang a beautiful lay about a brave knight.
- The scholar studied the ancient lays of the region to understand its early folklore.

### 7. arrangement

noun · CEFR B2

the way something is arranged or positioned.

For teachers: the arrangement, position, or configuration of something, often used in the phrase 'lay of the land'.

- We walked around the park to get the lay of the land.
- Before beginning the construction, the architect carefully examined the lay of the terrain.

### 8. to have sex

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

a very informal and sometimes rude way to say have sex with someone.

For teachers: to engage in sexual intercourse with someone; typically used transitively.

- He was just looking for a quick way to get laid.
- The film's dialogue was filled with crude jokes about trying to get laid at the party.

## Examples

- First, let's get the lay of the land.
- A new manager needs time to understand the lay of the land in the office.
- Her first week was spent observing, trying to get the lay of the political land before committing to any alliances.

---

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.