to put something down or stop using it
Example:
- She laid the book down on the table.
- Both sides were urged to lay down their arms (= stop fighting).
Related words and phrases
to stop doing a job, etc.
Example:
- to lay down your duties
if you lay down a rule or a principle, you state officially that people must obey it or use it
Example:
- You can't lay down hard and fast rules.
- It is laid down that all candidates must submit three copies of their dissertation.
to produce something that is stored and gradually increases
Example:
- If you eat too much, the surplus is laid down as fat.