lay out

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The English phrase "lay out" can be understood in several ways, and it is often used as a phrasal verb. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand it better:

Basic Meaning

1. To present or explain something clearly: When you "lay out" a plan or an idea, you are explaining it in a way that is easy for others to understand.

   • Example: "She laid out her plans for the new house, showing each room's design."

2. To spend money: When you "lay out" money, you are spending or investing a certain amount.

   • Example: "He laid out a fortune on the new car."

3. To prepare or set up: When you "lay out" something for a specific purpose, you are arranging it so it is ready to use.

   • Example: "I laid out the tools for the surgery."

4. To arrange in a particular order: This meaning refers to organizing things in a line or in a specific way.

   • Example: "She laid out the clothes for the trip on the bed."

Usage Instructions

• Use "lay out" when you want to talk about explaining ideas, spending money, preparing for an event, or arranging items.
• It is often followed by a noun (like "plans," "money," "tools," or "clothes").

Advanced Usage

"Lay out" can also be used in more complex sentences and contexts, especially in professional or academic settings. - Example: "The architect laid out the entire project timeline during the meeting."

Word Variants

• Laying out: Present participle (used for ongoing actions).
  • Example: "She is laying out the materials for the science project."
• Laid out: Past participle (used for completed actions).
  • Example: "He had laid out all his arguments before the debate."

Different Meanings

• Lay out in design: Referring to a design layout, such as in graphic design or architecture.
• Lay out in sports: In some sports, "lay out" can refer to a player making a dive or a big effort to catch a ball.

Synonyms

• For presenting: "explain," "describe," "outline."
• For spending: "spend," "invest."
• For preparing: "arrange," "setup."
• For organizing: "organize," "align."

Idioms and Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lay it on the line: To speak honestly and directly about something.
• Lay down the law: To tell someone what they must do or what the rules are.
• Lay aside: To put something away for later use or to not consider something for now.

Conclusion

"Lay out" is a versatile phrase that can be used in many situations, whether you are explaining, spending, preparing, or organizing.

Academic

Verb

1. provide a detailed plan or design
   • She laid out her plans for the new house
2. bring forward and present to the mind
   • We presented the arguments to him
   • We cannot represent this knowledge to our formal reason
3. spend or invest
   • lay out thousands on gold
   • he laid out a fortune in the hope of making a huge profit
4. get ready for a particular purpose or event
   • set up an experiment
   • set the table
   • lay out the tools for the surgery
5. lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line
   • lay out the clothes
   • lay out the arguments

Synonyms

• present
• represent
• set up
• set
• range
• array
• set out