lay

The word “lay” means to put something down, especially in a flat or resting position. In plain terms, to put something down, or (for a hen) to produce an egg; as an adjective, non-expert or non-clergy.

“Lay” is pronounced lay (/leɪ/ in IPA).

Here is “lay” used in a sentence: “He explained the diagnosis in lay terms so she could understand it.”

Words with a similar meaning to “lay” include laic, laical, laicist and laicistic.

The opposite of “lay” — its antonyms — are clerical and secular.

Depending on how it is used, “lay” can be a verb and an adjective.

The word “lay” comes from Old English. From Old English leċġan, "to lay" — the causative form of "lie" (to make something lie down), from Proto-Germanic *lagjaną.

“Lay” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Lay means to put something down and needs an object, so you lay a book on the table. Lie means to rest or recline and takes no object, so you lie down yourself. The confusion grows because 'lay' is also the past tense of 'lie': yesterday you lay down. In the present, lay acts on something; lie does not.

If you mean resting your own body, say 'lie down', as in 'I need to lie down'. 'Lay down' needs an object, as in 'lay down your weapons'. The catch is the past tense: 'Last night I lay down' is correct, because 'lay' is the past of 'lie'. In the present, choose lie for yourself.

The past tense of lay, meaning to put down, is 'laid', as in 'she laid the plates on the table'. The past participle is also 'laid'. Be careful: 'lay' by itself is the past tense of a different verb, 'lie'. So 'laid' belongs to lay, while 'lay' can belong to lie.

'Please lay the baby in the cot' shows the core meaning, putting something down gently in a resting position. Other examples include laying bricks, laying a table before a meal, or a hen laying an egg. In each, something is placed down or set out flat rather than lying down itself.