a plan or design of something that is laid out
"The architect approved the final layout for the new community garden before construction began next week."
the act of laying out (as by making plans for something)
"The city council spent all afternoon discussing the layout of the new park before breaking for lunch."
A structured arrangement of items within certain limits.
"The architect approved the new floor plan because its layout efficiently utilized every square foot of the small apartment."
In plain English: A layout is the way things are arranged or organized in a specific space.
"The new store layout makes it much easier for customers to find what they need."
Usage: Use layout to describe the physical arrangement or design of elements on a page, screen, or space. It refers specifically to how components are organized and positioned relative to one another within defined boundaries.
The word layout comes directly from the phrase lay out, which means to arrange or display items. It entered English as a noun form describing the act of laying something down for inspection or organization.