to lay out
100
3.1
- phrasal verb
- /leɪ aʊt/
:
disponer
- The teacher laid out the lesson plan on the board for all the students to see.
- well laid out
- lay out the plans
- lay out an experiment
Not wireless, but wired and laid out these things as Lego blocks.
- Not wireless, but wired and laid out these things as Lego blocks.
- Previous people have sort of laid out a route that they can take.
- And so here the, the mirrors, they are being laid out to reflect the sunshine.
- So I will kind of lay out loads of questions for myself.
Examples
-
I have laid out the picnic blanket on the grass for everyone to enjoy.
-
With the books laid out in front of them, they began to flip through the pages.
Academic text (2015) -
I'll lay out something for you to wear.
-
The national content is laid out so that all students have access to the same knowledge.
Academic text (2012) -
In the following pages, we lay out the four scenarios as described by participants.
Academic text (2011) -
After providing refreshments for participants, I laid photographs out on the table.
Academic text (2011) -
Please, enjoy these refreshments that I've thoughtfully laid out for you.
-
In 1870, Phoenix's townsite was laid out to facilitate the establishment of a central business district.
Academic text (1995) -
She laid out the materials carefully before starting her art project.
Synonyms
983
2.7
To assemble and prepare equipment or objects so they are ready to use
662
1.6
Arrange people, things, and activities so they work well
622
1.0
To prepare something for use or an event
162
1.7
To put things or information in a clear, neat order
115
2.6
Put people or things in a straight row
105
4.4
To arrange parts or ideas in a clear order
48
2.6
Tidy a bed or room so it looks neat
34
3.7
Plan something carefully in detail before doing it
32
3.2
To arrange objects or information in a clear organized way
24
3.1
To arrange or unfold things so they cover a larger area
23
3.1
Place things evenly in a space
16
3.9
To arrange things in an attractive, orderly way
13
3.6
To arrange text and images into a clear layout for printing or display
12
3.2
To make a place tidy and organized
8
2.7
Make a room neat by putting things away
5
1.9
To put things in a line or in order
2
4.1
To arrange people into a line or formation
1
3.7
To make something tidy by arranging things in order
1
4.2
To place things in a line along a path
To arrange things in a clear, ordered way for easy use
To put things next to each other in a certain order
Antonyms
How Organized
Surface Forms
Morphology
lay + out
The sense 'to spend/pay (money)' can be seen as a metaphorical extension of 'lay' (to put/place) + 'out' (away/externally) — i.e. to put money out — so there is a recognizable compositional link. However, the financial sense is an extended, partly metaphorical use and not fully predictable for all learners without exposure, so it should be classed as partially transparent.
Etymology
Lay out comes from placing items flat and visible, like laying tools or papers out on a table before you start work. Because everything is easy to see, it means 'to arrange or display'.