lay out

verb

1. to arrange or spread out

2. to prepare (a corpse) for burial or cremation

3. to plan or contrive

4. informal,  to spend (money), esp lavishly

5. informal,  to knock unconscious

6. informal,  to exert (oneself) or put (oneself) to an effort

   he laid himself out to please us

noun

1. the arrangement or plan of something, such as a building

2. the arrangement of written material, photographs, or other artwork on an advertisement or page in a book, newspaper, etc

3. a preliminary plan indicating this

4. a drawing showing the relative disposition of parts in a machine, etc

5. the act of laying out

6. something laid out

7. the formation of cards on the table in various games, esp in patience

8. informal,  a residence or establishment, esp a large one

Idioms and Phrases

Make a detailed plan, design, or explanation, as in They laid out the exact dimensions in order to construct the new display , or Robert laid out next year's plans for his staff . [Mid-1700s]

Prepare a dead body for burial, as in He died that morning and was laid out for the wake by afternoon . [Late 1500s]

Rebuke harshly, as in She laid me out for breaking the vase . [ Slang ; late 1800s]

Knock unconscious or to the ground, render helpless, as in He laid him out with one good punch . [Late 1800s]

Expend, spend, as in She laid out a fortune on jewelry . [Mid-1400s]

Display or arrange, especially in a particular order, as in He asked her to lay out the merchandise in an attractive way . [Mid-1400s]

Example Sentences

I’m laying out an interpretation that brushes away Mr. Putin’s great-man posturing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I wish you wouldn’t dawdle so, Margaret! I have been standing here for the better part of a minute. Now draw me a bath, please, and lay out a fresh gown.”

Read more on Literature

The Democrat who can lay out that vision while simultaneously continuing to battle the authoritarian creep currently eating our democracy will, in my humble opinion, be the one voters choose, regardless of origin story.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Home Office called the new proposals, which Mahmood will lay out in parliament on Monday, the "largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times".

Read more on Barron's

The Home Office called the new proposals, which Mahmood is due to lay out in parliament on Monday, the "largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• arrange 
• chart 
• outline