# lie

/ˈɫaɪ/ (US) · /lˈaɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. to be situated

verb · CEFR B1

to be located in a specific place.

For teachers: to be placed, situated, or located in a specific area or state.

- The small village lies at the foot of the mountains.
- The strength of the proposal lies in its simplicity and the clear timeline it provides for the first phase of development.

### 4. a falsehood

noun · CEFR B1

a statement that someone knows is not true.

For teachers: an intentionally false statement or a piece of information intended to deceive.

- It was a complete lie when he said he had never met her before.
- The politician's career was ruined when the public discovered the elaborate lie he had told regarding his military service.

### 5. physical position

noun · CEFR B2

the way something is placed or the shape of the land.

For teachers: the manner, place, or direction in which something is situated.

- We need to see the lie of the land before we start building the house.
- The golfer carefully studied the lie of the ball in the tall grass before choosing a club for the difficult shot.

### 6. medical position

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the position of a baby inside the mother before birth.

For teachers: the relationship of the long axis of the fetus to that of the mother.

- The doctor checked the baby's lie to make sure it was ready for birth.
- A transverse lie during the final weeks of pregnancy often necessitates a planned caesarean section to ensure a safe delivery.

## Examples

- He told a lie about why he was late for work.
- The witness was caught in a lie when the security footage proved he was not at the scene.
- While some view a white lie as a harmless social lubricant, others argue that any departure from the truth inevitably erodes the foundation of a relationship.

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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.