lay-n; 5 Senses

Sense Number 1: a general orientation or positioning of something

Commentary: LAY[+location][+orientation][+positioning][+of_something]

Examples:
The scout climbed to the top of the hill to get a better lay of the surrounding countryside.
Roll the carpet against the lay of the nap.
The new employees will need a little time to learn the lay of the landscape around here. (metaphoric extension)

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 1

Sense Number 2: vulgar term for sexual intercourse

Commentary: LAY[+event][+intercourse][+sexual]

Examples:
The sailors had been at sea for three months without a lay.
The price of a lay in the red light district was more than he had imagined.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: vulgar term for a sexual partner

Commentary: LAY[+person][+role][+partner][+sexual]

Examples:
He wondered whether she would be a good lay.
Mary told her friends that John was a lousy lay.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2a

Sense Number 4: the act of laying an egg

Commentary: LAY[+event][+egg_laying]

Examples:
The woman went to the henhouse to collect the eggs from the most recent lay.
The older chickens had less prodigious lays than the younger ones.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 5: a short lyric or poem intended to be sung

Commentary: LAY[+artifact][+opus][+lyrics][+short][+singable]

Examples:
It was a catchy little lay that everyone at work seemed to know.
He sang a merry lay as he walked along the country road.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2