The noun lay has 2 senses (no senses from tagged texts)
1. ballad, lay -- (a narrative song with a recurrent refrain)
2. ballad, lay -- (a narrative poem of popular origin)
Overview of verb lay
The verb lay has 5 senses (first 5 from tagged texts)
1. (26) put, set, place, pose, position, lay -- (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")
2. (11) lay, put down, repose -- (put in a horizontal position; "lay the books on the table"; "lay the patient carefully onto the bed")
3. (5) lay -- (prepare or position for action or operation; "lay a fire"; "lay the foundation for a new health care plan")
4. (4) lay -- (lay eggs; "This hen doesn't lay")
5. (1) lay -- (impose as a duty, burden, or punishment; "lay a responsibility on someone")
Overview of verb lie
The verb lie has 7 senses (first 7 from tagged texts)
1. (89) lie -- (be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position)
2. (58) lie -- (be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position; "The sick man lay in bed all day"; "the books are lying on the shelf")
3. (15) dwell, consist, lie, belong, lie in -- (originate (in); "The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country")
4. (14) lie -- (be and remain in a particular state or condition; "lie dormant")
5. (9) lie -- (tell an untruth; pretend with intent to deceive; "Don't lie to your parents"; "She lied when she told me she was only 29")
6. (4) lie, rest -- (have a place in relation to something else; "The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West"; "The responsibility rests with the Allies")
7. (4) lie down, lie -- (assume a reclining position; "lie down on the bed until you feel better")
Overview of adj lay
The adj lay has 2 senses (first 1 from tagged texts)
1. (1) laic, lay, secular -- (concerning those not members of the clergy; "set his collar in laic rather than clerical position"; "the lay ministry"; "the choir sings both sacred and secular music")
2. lay -- (not of or from a profession; "a lay opinion as to the cause of the disease")