- 积蓄，储蓄；把…留作以后用:
Every month he lays by 100 dollars out of his salary for his old age.
他每个月从薪水中拿出100美元存起来以备晚年之用。
- 把…放在一边；把…搁置起来；收起；放下(工作等)：
He laid his work by during the holidays.
在休假期间，他把工作放到了一边。
- 把…放在…旁边：
He laid the spade by the door.
他把铲子放在门边。
- 丢弃；放弃；出去；戒除(习惯等)：
Lay by the bad habits and turn over a new leaf.
勤劳除恶习，重新开始。
- [美国英语]收割(庄稼)，收获(庄稼)；(收割后)贮藏(谷物等)：
to lay by the spring wheat
收割春小麦
- [美国英语]给(玉米或田地等)作最后一道中耕：
The villagers are laying by the corn in the upland fileld.
村民正给高地里的玉米中耕。
- 为顾客存留(商品)：
The shop laid the cloth by for a customer.
商店为一个顾客保留着这些布料。
- 【航海学】顶风停船；使(船)顶风停驶：
The ship was forced to lay by in the storm wind.
船在暴风中被迫顶风停驶。