lay
gb/lˈeɪ/ us/lˈeɪ/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 1400
Maana
maana 0
Kitenzi
A2
action
1
Put something down flat
To put something down so it is flat or resting on something.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to lay [something] [somewhere]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners often confuse 'lay' with 'lie'. 'Lay' requires an object (you lay something), while 'lie' does not (you lie down).
Visawe
place (A more general term for putting something somewhere, not necessarily flat.)
|
set (Often used for placing objects carefully or in a particular position.)
Vinyume
pick up (Means to lift something from a surface, the opposite of laying it down.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
lay a book
|lay the table
|lay bricks
|lay eggs
|lay the groundwork
Mada
daily life
|objects
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- She laid the keys on the kitchen counter.
- Please lay the documents neatly on my desk.
- The workers laid the tiles carefully on the floor.
- He laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Lay the book on the table.
- Please lay your bag on the chair.
- He lays his phone next to the laptop.
- She lays her clothes on the bed.
Kitenzi
A2
action
2
Produce eggs (animal)
When a bird or other animal makes and leaves eggs.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to lay [number] eggs
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'give birth', which applies to live young, not eggs.
Visawe
produce (More general term for making something, not limited to eggs.)
|
deposit (Technical term for placing or leaving something somewhere.)
Vinyume
hatch (Refers to eggs breaking open to release young, the stage after laying.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
lay eggs
|lay a clutch
|lay an egg
Mada
animals
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- Chickens usually lay eggs in the morning.
- The turtle came ashore to lay her eggs.
- Many insects lay eggs in hidden places.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Hens lay eggs every day.
- The bird lays eggs in a nest.
- Some fish lay many eggs at one time.
Kitenzi
B1
action
3
Arrange or prepare carefully
To get something ready before it is needed.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to lay [plans/foundations/groundwork]
Visawe
prepare (General term for getting something ready.)
|
arrange (Emphasizes organizing items or plans in order.)
Vinyume
neglect (Failing to make necessary preparations.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
lay plans
|lay foundations
|lay groundwork
Mada
planning
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- They laid careful plans for the project.
- The engineers are laying the foundations for the new building.
- We need to lay the groundwork before starting production.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- We lay plans for the trip.
- They lay the base for the house.
- He lays the steps for the new work.
Kitenzi
informal
C1
action
4
Have sex with someone (slang)
(Informal) To have sex with someone.
Muundo wa matumizi:
to lay [someone]
Visawe
sleep with (Neutral euphemism for sexual intercourse.)
Mada
relationships
|health
Mifano
- He's always talking about trying to lay her.
- The movie character bragged about how many women he had laid.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He wants to lay her. (slang)
- They say he laid many women. (slang)
adjective
B2
property
5
Not professional or expert
Not having special training or knowledge about something.
Visawe
nonprofessional (Describes someone without formal training in a field.)
|
amateur (Can imply doing something for pleasure rather than as a job.)
Vinyume
expert (Has specialized knowledge or skills in a subject.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
lay person
|lay audience
|lay opinion
Mada
education
|work
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- The book is written for the lay reader.
- She explained the process in terms a lay audience could understand.
- Even a lay person can see that this is wrong.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- This is easy for a lay person to read.
- A lay audience needs simple words.
- He is a lay person in law.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
lay
IPA
GB/lˈeɪ/
US/lˈeɪ/
Silabi na mkazo
lay (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (lay)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: lay
Verb
- Base: lay
- 3rd Person Singular: lays
- Present Participle: laying
- Past: laid
- Past Participle: laid
Familia ya neno
Forms
lays
verb
laying
verb
laid
verb
Related words
layoff
noun
layover
noun
Advanced or less common
overlay
verb B2
outlay
noun
Vidokezo muhimu
- Irregular past: laid Verb
- Irregular past participle: laid Verb
Semi
get laid
1/ɡˈɛt lˈeɪd/
idiom
informal
Have sex (slang)
(Informal) To have sex with someone.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.