lay

nouns

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
ballad, lay
a narrative poem of popular origin
ballad, lay

verbs

put into a certain place or abstract location
"Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point"
lay, place, pose, position, put, set
see also
lay out
put in a horizontal position
"lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"
lay, put down, repose
see also
lay over
see also
lay away
see also
lay aside
prepare or position for action or operation
"lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan"
lay
is a type of (narrower)
arrange by systematic planning and united effort
"machinate a plot"; "organize a strike"; "devise a plan to take over the director's office"
devise, get up, machinate, organise, organize, prepare
lay eggs
"This hen doesn't lay"
lay
is derived from
layer
is a type of (narrower)
put in a horizontal position
"lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed"
lay, put down, repose
impose as a duty, burden, or punishment
"lay a responsibility on someone"
lay
is a type of (narrower)
impose and collect
"levy a fine"
impose, levy

adjectives

characteristic of those who are not members of the clergy
"set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry"
laic, lay, secular
is derived from
laity
not of or from a profession
"a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease"
lay
is similar to
not professional; not engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or for gain
"the nonprofessional wives of his male colleagues"; "nonprofessional actors"
nonprofessional