layout

[ley-out]

noun

1. an arrangement or plan.

   We objected to the layout of the house.

2. the act of laying or spreading out.

3. a plan or sketch, as of an advertisement or a page of a newspaper or magazine, indicating the arrangement and relationship of the parts, as of type and artwork.

4. (in advertising, publishing, etc.) the technique, process, or occupation of making layouts.

5. Journalism.,  spread.

6. Informal.,  a place, as of residence or business, and the features that go with it; a setup.

   a fancy layout with a swimming pool and a tennis court.

7. Informal.,  a display or spread, as of dishes at a meal.

8. a collection or set of tools, implements, or the like.

9. Cards.,  an arrangement of cards dealt according to a given pattern, as in solitaire.

10. Diving, Gymnastics.,  a body position in which one is fully extended and arched backward, with the legs together and straight, the head thrown back, and the arms extended sideways.

Word History and Origins

Origin of layout¹

1840–50, noun use of verb phrase lay out

Example Sentences

They’ve planned for two bedrooms, a kitchen and main living area on the top floor with a bedroom for their daughter below, a layout that also adapts to the hillside and their remaining foundation.

From Los Angeles Times

They emphasise a walkable layout, using local building materials and creating public spaces which help to support a sense of community.

From BBC

At Backhouse, the ceramicist meticulously created a layout with something for everyone: bar seats for singles, a communal table for socializers and smaller tables for groups and dates.

From Los Angeles Times

Its store layouts were known for their bright lighting and window displays that often feature piles of toilet tissue or pyramids of washing up powder.

From BBC

Its store layouts are known for their bright lighting and window displays that often feature piles of toilet tissue or pyramids of washing up powder.

From BBC

Related Words

• blueprint 
• chart 
• design 
• geography 
• map