lay
gb/lˈeɪ/ us/lˈeɪ/
A2
English
~ 1400
letesz, tojást rak, tojik, előkészít, alapot rak le, tervet készít, dug, megdug, baszik, megbasz, laikus
VERB
A2
1
letesz
A2
Usage pattern:
to lay [something] [somewhere]
She laid the keys on the kitchen counter.
Letette a kulcsokat a konyhapultra.
Please lay the documents neatly on my desk.
Kérlek, tedd le szépen az iratokat az íróasztalomra.
The workers laid the tiles carefully on the floor.
He laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.
Learner examples
Lay the book on the table.
Tedd le a könyvet az asztalra.
Please lay your bag on the chair.
Kérlek, tedd le a táskádat a székre.
He lays his phone next to the laptop.
She lays her clothes on the bed.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'lay' with 'lie'. 'Lay' requires an object (you lay something), while 'lie' does not (you lie down).
Meaning
Put something down flat
Collocations
lay a book
|lay the table
|lay bricks
|lay eggs
|lay the groundwork
Synonyms
place (A more general term for putting something somewhere, not necessarily flat.)
|
set (Often used for placing objects carefully or in a particular position.)
Antonyms
pick up (Means to lift something from a surface, the opposite of laying it down.)
Themes
daily life
|objects
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put something down so it is flat or resting on something.
To put or place something in a flat or resting position on a surface.
VERB
A2
2
tojást rak
A2
tojik
B1
Usage pattern:
to lay [number] eggs
Chickens usually lay eggs in the morning.
A tyúkok általában reggel tojnak.
The turtle came ashore to lay her eggs.
A nőstény teknős kijött a partra, hogy lerakja a tojásait.
Many insects lay eggs in hidden places.
Learner examples
Hens lay eggs every day.
A tyúkok mindennap tojnak.
The bird lays eggs in a nest.
A madár fészekbe rakja a tojásait.
Some fish lay many eggs at one time.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'give birth', which applies to live young, not eggs.
Meaning
Produce eggs (animal)
Collocations
lay eggs
|lay a clutch
|lay an egg
Synonyms
produce (More general term for making something, not limited to eggs.)
|
deposit (Technical term for placing or leaving something somewhere.)
Antonyms
hatch (Refers to eggs breaking open to release young, the stage after laying.)
Themes
animals
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a bird or other animal makes and leaves eggs.
(Of a bird, reptile, insect, etc.) to produce and deposit eggs from the body.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to lay [plans/foundations/groundwork]
They laid careful plans for the project.
Gondos terveket dolgoztak ki a projekthez.
The engineers are laying the foundations for the new building.
A mérnökök az új épület alapjait rakják le.
We need to lay the groundwork before starting production.
Learner examples
We lay plans for the trip.
Terveket készítünk az utazáshoz.
They lay the base for the house.
Lerakják a ház alapját.
He lays the steps for the new work.
Meaning
Arrange or prepare carefully
Collocations
lay plans
|lay foundations
|lay groundwork
Synonyms
prepare (General term for getting something ready.)
|
arrange (Emphasizes organizing items or plans in order.)
Antonyms
neglect (Failing to make necessary preparations.)
Themes
planning
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get something ready before it is needed.
To arrange or prepare something in advance for a particular purpose.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
to lay [someone]
He's always talking about trying to lay her.
Mindig arról beszél, hogy meg akarja dugni őt.
The movie character bragged about how many women he had laid.
A film szereplője azzal hencegett, hogy hány nőt dugott meg.
Learner examples
He wants to lay her. (slang)
Meg akarja dugni. (vulgáris szleng)
They say he laid many women. (slang)
Azt mondják, sok nőt dugott meg. (vulgáris szleng)
Meaning
Have sex with someone (slang)
Synonyms
sleep with (Neutral euphemism for sexual intercourse.)
Themes
relationships
|health
Definition
(Informal) To have sex with someone.
(Slang) To have sexual intercourse with someone.
B2
5
laikus
B2
The book is written for the lay reader.
A könyv laikus olvasóknak íródott.
She explained the process in terms a lay audience could understand.
Úgy magyarázta el a folyamatot, hogy a laikus közönség is megérthesse.
Even a lay person can see that this is wrong.
Learner examples
This is easy for a lay person to read.
Ezt egy laikus is könnyen el tudja olvasni.
A lay audience needs simple words.
A laikus közönségnek egyszerű szavakra van szüksége.
He is a lay person in law.
Meaning
Not professional or expert
Collocations
lay person
|lay audience
|lay opinion
Synonyms
nonprofessional (Describes someone without formal training in a field.)
|
amateur (Can imply doing something for pleasure rather than as a job.)
Antonyms
expert (Has specialized knowledge or skills in a subject.)
Themes
education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not having special training or knowledge about something.
Without professional or specialized knowledge in a subject; non-expert.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lay
IPA
GB/lˈeɪ/
US/lˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
lay (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lay)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lay
Verb
- Base: lay
- 3rd Person Singular: lays
- Present Participle: laying
- Past: laid
- Past Participle: laid
Word family
Forms
lays
verb
laying
verb
laid
verb
Related words
layoff
noun
layover
noun
Advanced or less common
overlay
verb B2
outlay
noun
Highlights
- Irregular past: laid Verb
- Irregular past participle: laid Verb
Expressions
get laid
1/ɡˈɛt lˈeɪd/
idiom
informal
Have sex (slang)
(Informal) To have sex with someone.
Examples
- He bragged about getting laid at the party.
- They joked about trying to get laid during vacation.
lay into
1/lˈeɪ ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
informal
Attack or criticize strongly
To strongly criticize or attack someone.
Examples
- The coach really laid into the team after they lost.
- She laid into him for being late again.
lay off
1/lˈeɪ ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
Dismiss from job
To stop employing someone, usually because there is not enough work or money.
Examples
- The company had to lay off 200 workers last year.
- They laid her off after the factory closed.
lay out
1/lˈeɪ ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Arrange neatly for viewing/use
To arrange things neatly so people can see them.
Examples
- She laid out the tools on the table.
- The clothes were laid out on the bed.
lay down the law
1/lˈeɪ dˈaʊn ðə lˈɔ/
idiom
informal
State rules firmly
To tell people what they must do in a strict way.
Examples
- The teacher laid down the law on cheating from day one.
- The teacher laid down the law about homework deadlines.
- At home, my parents laid down the law about curfews.
- He laid down the law to his children about bedtime.