lie

verb, noun-see also LIE verb (lies, lying, lay ) 1 (of a person or an animal) to be or put yourself in a flat or horizontal position so that you are not standing or sitting: [V, +adv./prep.] to lie on your back / side / front * [V-ADJ] The cat was lying fast asleep by the fire. 2 (of a thing) to be or remain in a flat position on a surface: [V, +adv./prep.] Clothes were lying all over the floor. * [V-ADJ] The book lay open on his desk. 3 to be, remain or be kept in a particular state: [V-ADJ] Snow was lying thick on the ground. * These machines have lain idle since the factory closed. * [V+adv./prep.] a ship lying at anchor * I'd rather use my money than leave it lying in the bank. 4 [V+adv./prep.] (of a town, natural feature, etc.) to be situated in a particular place: The town lies on the coast. 5 [V+adv./prep.] to be spread out in a particular place: The valley lay below us. 6 [V] ~ (in sth) (of ideas, qualities, problems, etc.) to exist or be found: The problem lies in deciding when to intervene. 7 (BrE) to be in a particular position during a competition: [V, +adv./prep.] Thompson is lying in fourth place. * [V-ADJ] After five games the German team are lying second. compareLAY IDIOMS lie in state (of the dead body of an important person) to be placed on view in a public place before being buried lie in wait (for sb) to hide, waiting to surprise, attack or catch sb: He was surrounded by reporters who had been lying in wait for him. lie low (informal) to try not to attract attention to yourself take sth lying down to accept an insult or offensive act without protesting or reacting moreatBEDn., BOTTOMn., HEAVYadv., LANDn., SLEEPv. PHRASALVERBS lie around / about 1 (of a number of things) to be spread in an untidy way somewhere: Don't leave toys lying around-someone might trip over them. 2 (of a person) to spend time doing nothing and being lazy relatednounLAYABOUT lie back to do nothing except relax: You don't have to do anything-just lie back and enjoy the ride. lie behind sth to be the real reason for sth, often hidden: What lay behind this strange outburst? lie down to be or get into a flat position, especially in bed, in order to sleep or rest: Go and lie down for a while. * He lay down on the sofa and soon fell asleep. relatednounLIE-DOWN lie in (BrE) (also sleep in AmE, BrE) (informal) to stay in bed after the time you usually get up: It's a holiday tomorrow, so you can lie in. relatednounLIE-IN lie with sb (to do sth) (formal) to be sb's duty or responsibility: It lies with you to accept or reject the proposals.