Definition of lay out

The phrase "lay out" can be traced back to the Middle English period, where it was spelled "leigen act". In its original usage, "lay out" referred to placing out or arranging items in a specific arrangement. This meaning can still be found in modern usage, particularly in the context of designing or organizing physical spaces. Over time, "lay out" also came to be used more broadly to describe the act of spreading out or presenting something for inspection, such as laying out crops in a field for harvesting or displaying a design in order to solicit feedback. Today, "lay out" is commonly used in a variety of contexts, including construction, sewing, cooking, and graphic design, among others. However, the underlying meaning of presenting or organizing items in a deliberate and systematic way remains consistent across all its uses.