Home / Dictionary / Laid

Laid Moderate

Laid has 3 different meanings across 1 category:

Adjective

Definitions
Verb
1

simple past tense and past participle of lay

"She laid the baby gently in the crib before turning off the nightlight."

In plain English: To lay something down flat or place it carefully on a surface.

"She laid her book on the table before leaving the room."

Usage: Use "laid" only when describing an object that has been placed or put down in a specific position, such as laying bricks on a table. Do not use it for animals resting or people reclining, as those actions require the verb "lay" in its past tense form.

Adjective
1

set down according to a plan

"a carefully laid table with places set for four people"

"stones laid in a pattern"

2

Marked with parallel lines, as if ribbed, from wires in the mould.

In plain English: Laid means relaxed and calm, especially when someone is not stressed or worried about anything.

"The laid cat curled up on the sunny windowsill to nap."

Usage: Do not use "laid" as an adjective to describe texture or pattern; instead, use the past participle of "lie," which is also "lain," though neither fits this specific definition. The correct term for something marked with parallel lines from a mould is "ribbed."

Example Sentences
"The laid cat curled up on the sunny windowsill to nap." adj
"The laid attitude of the cat made her hard to wake up in the morning sun." adj
"His laid approach to work meant he rarely felt stressed about deadlines." adj
"After the long hike, we found a spot with such laid terrain that it was perfect for resting." adj
"She laid her book on the table before leaving the room." verb
Related Terms

Origin

As a surname in English, "Laid" comes from the Middle English word for a river crossing. In Estonia, it derives from a term meaning a small island or holm in water.

Rhyming Words
aid zaid naid kaid waid caid said raid paid braid quaid usaid staid plaid ubaid fraid nsaid danaid mydaid navaid
Compare
Laid vs