lay

Lay is a versatile English word with several distinct meanings. As a verb, lay is transitive and means to place something in a horizontal or flat position. Its past tense and past participle are laid. It is used with a direct object: lay the plates on the shelf; you lay eggs, meaning the act of egg-laying by birds or certain animals. It can also mean to set down or establish—lay down rules, lay claim, lay the foundation. The related intransitive verb lie means to recline and has different forms (lie, lay, lain). Confusion often arises because lay is paired with lie in similar contexts.

As a noun, lay can refer to a short narrative or lyric poem, especially in medieval literature. The term is related to lai and was used for songs or stories, often about love or adventure. It is less common in modern usage but appears in literary discussion and translations of medieval texts.

Lay also appears in the sense of the laity—the lay or non-ordained members of a religious community, contrasted with clergy. In this use, laypersons are those without formal religious office. The adjective lay is used in phrases like lay expertise or layperson knowledge, meaning non-professional or non-specialist.

As a proper noun, Lay can be a surname or given name in various cultures. It may appear in English-language texts as a family name, and in some East Asian contexts as a transliteration of surnames such as Li or Lai. The pronunciation and meaning can vary by language.