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lair

1
[ lair ]
/ lɛər /
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noun
a den or resting place of a wild animal: The cougar retired to its lair.
a secluded or hidden place, especially a secret retreat or base of operations; a hideout or hideaway: a pirate's lair.
British. a place in which to lie or rest; a bed.
verb (used with object)
to place in a lair.
to serve as a lair for.
verb (used without object)
to go to, lie in, or have a lair.
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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

Origin of lair

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English leir(e), lair, lare, Old English leger; cognate with Dutch, Old High German leger “bed, camp,” Afrkaans laager “defensive circle of wagons,” German Lager “storehouse”; akin to lie2

Other definitions for lair (2 of 4)

lair2
[ lair ]
/ lɛər /

noun
British Dialect. mud; mire.
verb (used without object)
Scot. to sink or stick in mud or mire.

Origin of lair

2
First recorded in 1300–50; verb use of Middle English lair “clay, mire,” from Old Norse leir ”clay, mud”

Other definitions for lair (3 of 4)

lair3
[ lair ]
/ lɛər /

noun Chiefly Scot.

Origin of lair

3
Middle English lōre, laire (north and Scots lare, lere ), Old English lār “teaching, instruction”; see origin at lore1

Other definitions for lair (4 of 4)

lair4
[ lair ]
/ lɛər /

noun Australian Informal.
a man who dresses garishly and is crude or vulgar; show-off.

Origin of lair

4
First recorded in 1930–35; back formation from lairy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lair in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lair (1 of 3)

lair1
/ (lɛə) /

noun
the resting place of a wild animal
informal a place of seclusion or hiding
an enclosure or shed for farm animals
Scot the ground for a grave in a cemetery
verb
(intr) (esp of a wild animal) to retreat to or rest in a lair
(tr) to drive or place (an animal) in a lair

Word Origin for lair

Old English leger; related to lie ² and Old High German leger bed

British Dictionary definitions for lair (2 of 3)

lair2
/ (ler) /

noun, verb
a Scot word for mire

Word Origin for lair

from Old Norse leir mud

British Dictionary definitions for lair (3 of 3)

lair3
/ (lɛə) Australian slang /

noun
a flashy man who shows off
verb
(intr; foll by up or around) to behave or dress like a lair

Word Origin for lair

perhaps from leer
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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