lie
1
[ lahy ]
/ laɪ /
noun
verb (used without object), lied, ly·ing.
to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive.
to express what is false; convey a false impression.
verb (used with object), lied, ly·ing.
to bring about or affect by lying (often used reflexively): to lie oneself out of a difficulty; accustomed to lying his way out of difficulties.
Idioms for lie
- to accuse of lying; contradict.
- to prove or imply the falsity of; belie: His poor work gives the lie to his claims of experience.
give the lie to,
lie in one's throat/teeth,
to lie grossly or maliciously: If she told you exactly the opposite of what she told me, she must be lying in her teeth.
Also lie through one's teeth.
Origin of lie
1
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English
lyge; cognate with German
Lüge, Old Norse
lygi; akin to Gothic
liugn; (verb) Middle English
lien, Old English
lēogan (intransitive); cognate with German
lügen, Old Norse
ljūga, Gothic
liugan
synonym study for lie
1. See
falsehood.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lie
lie lyeWords nearby lie
lidia,
lidice,
lidless,
lido,
lidocaine,
lie,
lie detector,
lie down,
lie group,
lie in,
lie in state
Definition for lie (2 of 3)
lie
2
[ lahy ]
/ laɪ /
verb (used without object), lay, lain, ly·ing.
noun
Verb Phrases
Origin of lie
2
before 900; Middle English
lien, liggen, Old English
licgan; cognate with German
liegen, Dutch
liggen, Old Norse
liggja, Gothic
ligan; akin to Greek
léchesthai to lie down
usage note for lie
See
lay1.
Definition for lie (3 of 3)
Lie
[ lee ]
/ li /
noun
Jonas,1880–1940,
U.S. painter, born in Norway.
(Ma·ri·us) So·phus
[mah-ree-oo s soh-foo s] /ˌmɑ ri ʊs ˈsoʊ fʊs/,1842–99,
Norwegian mathematician.
Tryg·ve Halv·dan
[trig-vuh hahlv-dahn; Norwegian tryg-vuh hahlv-dahn] /ˈtrɪg və ˈhɑlv dɑn; Norwegian ˈtrüg və ˈhɑlv dɑn/,1896–1968,
Norwegian statesman: secretary-general of the United Nations 1946–53.
Example sentences from the Web for lie
British Dictionary definitions for lie (1 of 3)
lie
1
/ (laɪ) /
verb lies, lying or lied
(intr)
to speak untruthfully with intent to mislead or deceive
(intr)
to convey a false impression or practise deception
the camera does not lie
noun
an untrue or deceptive statement deliberately used to mislead
something that is deliberately intended to deceive
give the lie to
- to disprove
- to accuse of lying
Other words from lie
Related adjective: mendaciousWord Origin for lie
Old English
lyge (n),
lēogan (vb); related to Old High German
liogan, Gothic
liugan
British Dictionary definitions for lie (2 of 3)
lie
2
/ (laɪ) /
verb lies, lying, lay (leɪ) or lain (leɪn) (intr)
noun
Word Origin for lie
Old English
licgan akin to Old High German
ligen to lie, Latin
lectus bed
undefined lie
See
lay 1
British Dictionary definitions for lie (3 of 3)
Lie
/ (liː) /
noun
Trygve Halvdan (ˈtryɡvə ˈhalðan). 1896–1968, Norwegian statesman; first secretary-general of the United Nations (1946–52)
Medical definitions for lie
lie
[ lī ]
n.
The manner or position in which something is situated, especially the relation that the long axis of a fetus bears to that of its mother.
Idioms and Phrases with lie
lie