- lie
- lie1verb (lies, lying; past lay; past participle lain)1》 be in or assume a horizontal or resting position on a supporting surface.↘be buried in a particular place.2》 be or remain in a specified state.3》 reside or be found: the solution lies in a return to traditional values.4》 be situated in a specified position or direction.5》 Law (of an action, charge, or claim) be admissible or sustainable.noun1》 the way, direction, or position in which something lies or comes to rest.2》 the place of cover of an animal or a bird.Phraseslet something lie take no action on a difficult matter.lie low keep out of sight; avoid attention.the lie (N. Amer. lay) of the land1》 the features of an area.2》 the current situation.take something lying down [usu. with negative] accept an insult, setback, or rebuke without protest.Phrasal verbslie in1》 Brit. remain in bed later than usual.2》 archaic (of a pregnant woman) go to bed to give birth.lie off Nautical (of a ship) stand some distance from shore or from another ship.lie to Nautical (of a ship) come almost to a stop with its head towards the wind.lie up (of a ship) go into dock or be out of commission.lie with archaic have sex with.OriginOE licgan, of Gmc origin.Usage————————lie2noun an intentionally false statement.↘a situation involving deception or founded on a mistaken impression: she had been living a lie.verb (lies, lying, lied) tell a lie or lies.↘(of a thing) present a false impression.Phrasesgive the lie to serve to show that (something assumed to be the case) is not true.lie through one's teeth informal tell an outright lie.OriginOE lyge (n.), lēogan (v.), of Gmc origin.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.