chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

  



Search Tips & Abbreviations

Search results for 'lie':

lie1 noun 1 a false statement made with the intention of deceiving. 2 anything misleading; a fraud • live a lie. verb (lied, lying) intrans 1 to say things that are not true with the intention of deceiving. 2 to give a wrong or false impression • The camera never lies. give the lie to someone or something 1 originally to accuse them of lying. 2 now to show (a statement, etc) to be false. lie through one's teeth to tell blatant lies. See liar, white lie.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon lyge.

lie2 verb (past tense lay, past participle lain, present participle lying) intrans 1 to be in or take on a flat or more or less horizontal position on a supporting surface. 2 to be situated • The village lies to the west of here. 3 to stretch or be spread out to view • The harbour lay before us. 4 said of subjects for discussion: to remain undiscussed • let matters lie. 5 a to be or remain in a particular state • lie dormant; b to be buried • Jim's remains lie in a cemetery in Paris. noun 1 a the way or direction in which something is lying; b golf the relative position of a ball that has been struck • Despite finding the rough, he had a good lie. 2 an animal's or bird's hiding-place. lie in wait or lie in wait for someone to hide before ambushing them. lie low to stay quiet or hidden. take something lying down often with negatives to accept a rebuke or disappointment, etc meekly and without protest.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon licgan.

lie back 1 to lean back on a support. 2 to rest, especially after a period of hard work.

lie down to take a flat or horizontal position, especially to sleep or have a short rest.

lie in 1 to stay in bed later than usual in the morning 2 old use to be in bed giving birth to a child.

lie in something to consist of it or have it as an essential part • Success lies in hard work.

lie to naut said of a ship: to be almost at a complete standstill.

lie up said of a ship: to go into or be in dock.

lie with someone 1 said of a duty or responsibility: to rest with them. 2 old use to have sexual intercourse with them.