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

    give the lie to,
    1. to accuse of lying; contradict.
    2. to prove or imply the falsity of; belie: His poor work gives the lie to his claims of experience.
    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 lye

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
  1. to disprove
  2. to accuse of lying

Other words from lie

Related adjective: mendacious

Word 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