lay
/leɪ/ noun C2- A ballad or sung poem; a short poem or narrative, usually intended to be sung. · 1925 The Lay of Leithien, poem by J.R.R. Tolkien, Anglo-Saxon Professor.
- A lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals with tales of adventure and romance. · 1945: "The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun" by JRR Tolkien Sad is the note and sad the lay, but mirth we meet not every day.
Plural lays
Phrasal verbs and expressions
- lay about To strike blows in all directions.
- lay aside To reserve (something, especially money) for future use; ...
- lay away To bury (someone).
- lay back To lie down on one's back; to lie back.
- lay by To put away for future use; save; to build up as savings.
- lay down To give up, surrender, or yield (e.g. a weapon), usually ...
- lay in To put (something) aside for future use.
- lay into To beat up or launch an attack against; to strike forcefu...
- lay off (of an employer) To dismiss (workers) from employment, e....
- lay on To provide (food or drinks) for free.
- lay out To expend or contribute money to an expense or purchase.
- lay over To make an intermediary stop somewhere.
From the library
The Tin Woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit, for he remembered when he was made of flesh; but not being able to sleep, he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they kept in good working order.
“Take out my straw and scatter it over the little girl and the dog and the Lion,” he said to the Woodman, “and the bees cannot sting them.” This the Woodman did, and as Dorothy lay close beside the Lion and held Toto in her arms, the straw covered them entirely.
And as bees cannot live when their stings are broken that was the end of the black bees, and they lay scattered thick about the Woodman, like little heaps of fine coal.
A Lion lay in ambush in the hope of making them his prey, but was afraid to attack them while they kept together.
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