lay

verb
lā

To place down in a position of rest, or in a horizontal position.

Other meanings

To compel a supernatural entity to cease haunting a place, often by ritual or prayer; to exorcise or banish (a spirit or ghost).
To prepare (a plan, project etc.); to set out, establish (a law, principle).

Synonyms

put
set
place
pose
position

Example sentences

“Just lay back and watch it like a play.”
Tatoeba · AmarMecheri · CC0
“Cookie lay down on the arm of my chair.”
Tatoeba · Miktsoanit · CC0

Word history

From Old English "leċġan" (to lay).

Where this comes from

This definition is adapted from “lay” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; example sentences are from Tatoeba, credited to their authors above; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.