lay down
verb- To give up, surrender, or yield (e.g. a weapon), usually by placing it on the ground. · The police urged the gunman to lay down his weapon.· Lay down your arms.
- To place or install on the ground, e.g. a railway on a trackbed. · lay down a mat; lay down asphalt; lay down a road
- To intentionally take a fall while riding a motorcycle, in order to prevent a more serious collision. · He laid down his brand-new Harley-Davidson to avoid the oncoming bus.
- To specify, institute, enact, assert firmly, state authoritatively, establish or formulate (rules or policies). · Let's lay down the rules right at the beginning, so we are consistent.· You've got to lay down the law with that boy.
- To stock, store (e.g. wine) for the future. See also lay by.
- To kill (someone).
- To euthanize an animal.
- To sacrifice, especially in the phrase "to lay down one's life."
From the library
Edmond resigned the lugger to the master’s care, and went and lay down in his hammock; but, in spite of a sleepless night, he could not close his eyes for a moment.
At last she crawled over the swaying floor to her bed, and lay down upon it; and Toto followed and lay down beside her.
She lay down at once, and with Toto beside her soon fell into a sound sleep.
So he kept a good distance away from the flames, and only came near to cover Dorothy with dry leaves when she lay down to sleep.
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