lay-v; 5 Senses

Sense Number 1: position or place something

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] LAY NP2[patient] (PP{P NP[location]}) Notes: denotes a simple, single movement, or simple repetitive movements. Includes: Concrete uses.

Examples:
She tried to lay her head against the window to sleep.
He laid the watch to his ear.
The mother laid the baby in the cradle.

Mappings:
VerbNet: put_spatial-9.2
FrameNet: Placing
PropBank: lay.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2

Sense Number 2: impose, levy, employ

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] LAY NP2[patient[abstract]] PP{P NP[target]} Includes: Abstract uses.

Examples:
He laid the blame on Mary.
The director lays on the tragedy a little too thick.
They are laying additional tariffs on hotel and restaurant
services.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: lay.03
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5

Sense Number 3: set in order; create or construct by placing in position

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] LAY NP2[theme]
NOTE: denotes a complex activity, not a simple movement.

Examples:
After dinner, John laid a fire in the study for us.
It's not enough to lay good plans, you must execute them well also.
Those men lay brick for a living.
The foundation for this peace negotiation was laid in the last treaty.
The Railroad Museum will be laying track this spring and summer.
They are laying a trail for the children's 'fox' hunt.
John's political enemies are laying a trap for him.

Mappings:
VerbNet: create-26.4
FrameNet: NM
PropBank: NM
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3

Sense Number 4: deposit, as eggs

Commentary: Syntax Is: NP1[agent] LAY NP2[product]

Examples:
Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Her most productive hens can lay an egg a day.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NM
FrameNet: Birth
PropBank: lay.01
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4

Sense Number 5: verb particle construction/multi-word expression

Commentary: contains 15 VPCs, with multiple senses! Please look at examples carefully...

Examples:
LAY ASIDE
save up: "He lays aside half his salary every month."
LAY AWAY
stash, hide: So she lays away items for his future in the nooks and crannies of our cluttered home.
LAY CLAIM
claim: He laid claim to special tax exemptions.
LAY DOWN
establish: Will 2006 rise to the challenges laid down by 2005?
He laid down the law.
LAY EYES ON
behold: The first time I laid eyes on her, she didn't take my breath away.
LAY HANDS ON
(spiritually): He prayed and laid hands on the sick, commanding them to be healed.
acquire: Now we've laid our hands on the new device.
LAY IN
store, stash away: We laid in supplies for the winter.
LAY INTO
attack: He ran around like crazy and then just laid into me.
LAY OFF
discontinue: I'm going to try to lay off it for a while.
You need to lay off reading that Yogi Bera Quotes book.
furlough: She was laid off with hundreds of other workers.
LAY ON THE LINE
risk: He has laid his heart on the line.
LAY OUT
arrange, set up: Lay out the clothes for your trip.
spend, invest: He laid out a fortune in hopes of making a profit.
present: We laid out our arguments to him.
provide a detailed plan: She laid out her plans for the new house.
LAY OVER
interrupt a journey: People were getting laid over in Dallas because of the floods in Houston.
superimpose: A shimmery, see-through fabric was laid over fine canvas.
LAY TO REST
bury: Stalin was laid to rest behind the Kremlin wall.
LAY UP
disable: She was laid up with pneumonia for six weeks.
LAY WASTE TO
devastate: Last night, rabbits laid waste to the lettuce I was going to pick today.

Mappings:
VerbNet: fire-10.10
FrameNet: Attack,Firing,Destroying
PropBank: lay.02
WordNet Verb Particle Constructions, Multiword Expressions:
lay_off 1, 2
lay_out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
lay_over 1, 2
lay_to_rest 1
lay_claim 1
lay_away 1
lay_in 1
lay_up 1
lay_aside 1
lay_hands_on 1
lay_on_the_line 1
lay_down 1
lay_eyes_on 1
lay_waste_to 1
lay_into 1