lie
1[ lahy ]
/ laɪ /
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noun
verb (used without object), lied, ly·ing.
to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.
to express what is false; convey a false impression.
verb (used with object), lied, ly·ing.
to bring about or affect by lying (often used reflexively): to lie oneself out of a difficulty; accustomed to lying his way out of difficulties.
SYNONYMS FOR lie
VIDEO FOR LIE
WATCH NOW: Two Nerdy Steps To Learn "Lay" vs. "Lie"
When we asked this woman the difference between lay and lie ... she couldn't answer right away. Maybe her nerdy steps to learn how to use these words will help you learn the difference between lay and lie too?
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QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!
In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”
Question 1 of 7
The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Idioms for lie
- to accuse of lying; contradict.
- to prove or imply the falsity of; belie: His poor work gives the lie to his claims of experience.
give the lie to,
lie in one's throat / teeth, to lie grossly or maliciously: If she told you exactly the opposite of what she told me, she must be lying in her teeth.Also lie through one's teeth.
Origin of lie
1First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English leye, lighe; Old English lyge, lige; cognate with German Lüge, Old Norse lygi; akin to Gothic liugn; (verb) Middle English lien, ligen, leie, Old English lēogan (intransitive); cognate with German lügen, Old Norse ljūga, Gothic liugan
synonym study for lie
1. See falsehood.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lie
lie , lyeWords nearby lie
Definition for lie (2 of 3)
lie2
[ lahy ]
/ laɪ /
verb (used without object), lay, lain, ly·ing.
noun
Verb Phrases
Origin of lie
2First recorded before 900; Middle English lien, liggen, Old English licgan; cognate with German liegen, Dutch liggen, Old Norse liggja, Gothic ligan; akin to Greek léchesthai “to lie down”
words often confused with lie
See lay1.
Definition for lie (3 of 3)
Lie
[ lee ]
/ li /
noun
Jonas, 1880–1940, U.S. painter, born in Norway.
(Ma·ri·us) So·phus [mah-ree-oos -soh-foos], /ˌmɑ ri ʊs ˈsoʊ fʊs/, 1842–99, Norwegian mathematician.
Tryg·ve Halv·dan [trig-vuh -hahlv-dahn; Norwegian tryg-vuh -hahlv-dahn], /ˈtrɪg və ˈhɑlv dɑn; Norwegian ˈtrüg və ˈhɑlv dɑn/, 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman: secretary-general of the United Nations 1946–53.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for lie (1 of 3)
lie1
/ (laɪ) /
verb lies, lying or lied
(intr) to speak untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive
(intr) to convey a false impression or practise deceptionthe camera does not lie
noun
an untrue or deceptive statement deliberately used to mislead
something that is deliberately intended to deceive
give the lie to
- to disprove
- to accuse of lying
Other words from lie
Related adjective: mendaciousWord Origin for lie
Old English lyge (n), lēogan (vb); related to Old High German liogan, Gothic liugan
British Dictionary definitions for lie (2 of 3)
lie2
/ (laɪ) /
verb lies, lying, lay (leɪ) or lain (leɪn) (intr)
noun
Word Origin for lie
Old English licgan akin to Old High German ligen to lie, Latin lectus bed
undefined lie
See lay 1
British Dictionary definitions for lie (3 of 3)
Lie
/ (liː) /
noun
Trygve Halvdan (ˈtryɡvə ˈhalðan). 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman; first secretary-general of the United Nations (1946–52)
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
Medical definitions for lie
lie
[ lī ]
n.
The manner or position in which something is situated, especially the relation that the long axis of a fetus bears to that of its mother.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with lie
lie
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.