laying down

Verb

lay down (third-person singular simple present lays down, present participle laying down, simple past and past participle laid down)

1. (transitive) 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.
2. 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
3. (transitive) 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.
4. (transitive) 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.
5. To stock, store (e.g. wine) for the future. See also lay by.
6. (dated, transitive, African-American Vernacular) To kill (someone).

See all 11 meanings of lay down