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2 [leed; German leet]
noun, plural lieder [lee-der; German lee-duhr] .
a typically 19th-century German art song characterized by the setting of a poetic text in either strophic or through-composed style and the treatment of the piano and voice in equal artistic partnership: Schubert lieder.

1850–55; < German


1 [lahy]
a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood. prevarication, falsification. truth.
an inaccurate or false statement; a falsehood.
verb (used without object), lied, lying.
to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive. prevaricate, fib.
to express what is false; convey a false impression.
verb (used with object), lied, lying.
give the lie to,
to accuse of lying; contradict.


1.See falsehood.


2 [lahy]
verb (used without object), lay, lain, lying.
(of objects) to rest in a horizontal or flat position: The book lies on the table. stand.
to be or remain in a position or state of inactivity, subjection, restraint, concealment, etc.: to lie in ambush.
to rest, press, or weigh (usually followed by on or upon ): These things lie upon my mind.
to depend (usually followed by on or upon ).
to be placed or situated: land lying along the coast.
to be stretched out or extended: the broad plain that lies before us.
to be in or have a specified direction; extend: The trail from here lies to the west.
to be found or located in a particular area or place: The fault lies here.
to consist or be grounded (usually followed by in ): The real remedy lies in education.
to be buried in a particular spot: Their ancestors lie in the family plot.
Archaic. to lodge; stay the night; sojourn.
the manner, relative position, or direction in which something lies: the lie of the patio, facing the water. place, location, site.
the haunt or covert of an animal.
Verb phrases
lie by,
to pause for rest; stop activities, work, etc., temporarily.
to lie unused: Ever since the last member of the family died, the old house has lain by.
lie down, to assume a horizontal or prostrate position, as for the purpose of resting.
lie in,
to be confined to bed in childbirth.
Chiefly British. to stay in bed longer than usual, especially in the morning.
lie over, to be postponed for attention or action at some future time: The other business on the agenda will have to lie over until the next meeting.
lie up,
to lie at rest; stay in bed.
(of a ship) to dock or remain in dock.
lie with,
to be the duty or function of: The decision in this matter lies with him.
Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.
lie down on the job, Informal. to do less than one could or should do; shirk one's obligations.
lie in state. state ( def 24 ).
lie low. low1 ( def 51 ).
lie to, Nautical. (of a ship) to lie comparatively stationary, usually with the head as near the wind as possible.
take lying down, to hear or yield without protest, contradiction, or resistance: I refuse to take such an insult lying down.


See lay1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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World English Dictionary
lie1 (laɪ)
vb , lies, lying, lied
3.  an untrue or deceptive statement deliberately used to mislead
4.  something that is deliberately intended to deceive
5.  give the lie to
 a.  to disprove
 b.  to accuse of lying
Related: mendacious

lie2 (laɪ)
3.  to be buried: here lies Jane Brown
5.  to stretch or extend: the city lies before us
8.  (foll by with)
 b.  archaic to have sexual intercourse (with)
10.  archaic to stay temporarily
11.  lie in state See state
12.  lie low
 a.  to keep or be concealed or quiet
 b.  to wait for a favourable opportunity
14.  the hiding place or lair of an animal
15.  golf
16.  lie of the land
 a.  the topography of the land

Lie (liː)

lied (liːd, German liːt)
n , pl lieder
music any of various musical settings for solo voice and piano of a romantic or lyrical poem, for which composers such as Schubert, Schumann, and Wolf are famous
[from German: song]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History




1852, from Ger., lit. "song," from M.H.G. liet, from O.H.G. liod, from P.Gmc. *leuthan (see laud).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

lie (lī)

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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Bible Dictionary

Lie definition


Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Example sentences
He told them that he had lied to them, and everyone else, and had to make it
  lied to it.
And they've lied about how many trees they're cutting, so they can pay less in
But, be prepared to open your mind to the fact you have been lied to by the
  environmentalist movement.
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