INLAY (inlaid)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: inlaid   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does inlay mean? 

• INLAY (noun)
  The noun INLAY has 2 senses:

1. (dentistry) a filling consisting of a solid substance (as gold or porcelain) fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place

2. a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface

  Familiarity information: INLAY used as a noun is rare.

• INLAY (verb)
  The verb INLAY has 1 sense:

1. decorate the surface of by inserting wood, stone, and metal

  Familiarity information: INLAY used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INLAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(dentistry) a filling consisting of a solid substance (as gold or porcelain) fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("inlay" is a kind of...):

filling ((dentistry) a dental appliance consisting of any of various substances (as metal or plastic) inserted into a prepared cavity in a tooth)

Domain category:

dental medicine; dentistry; odontology (the branch of medicine dealing with the anatomy and development and diseases of the teeth)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("inlay" is a kind of...):

decoration; ornament; ornamentation (something used to beautify)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "inlay"):

marqueterie; marquetry (inlaid veneers are fitted together to form a design or picture that is then used to ornament furniture)

parqueterie; parquetry (a patterned wood inlay used to cover a floor)

Derivation:

inlay (decorate the surface of by inserting wood, stone, and metal)

• INLAY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they inlay    ... he / she / it inlays   
Past simple: inlaid    / inlayed   
Past participle: inlaid    / inlayed   
-ing form: inlaying    / inlayinging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decorate the surface of by inserting wood, stone, and metal

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "inlay" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "inlay"):

hatch (inlay with narrow strips or lines of a different substance such as gold or silver, for the purpose of decorating)

damascene (inlay metal with gold and silver)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

inlay (a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface)

 Context examples 

She advanced and examined it closely: it was of cedar, curiously inlaid with some darker wood, and raised, about a foot from the ground, on a carved stand of the same.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Finding they were determined to go, the Winkies gave Toto and the Lion each a golden collar; and to Dorothy they presented a beautiful bracelet studded with diamonds; and to the Scarecrow they gave a gold-headed walking stick, to keep him from stumbling; and to the Tin Woodman they offered a silver oil-can, inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

But for my satisfaction, if you will have the goodness to ring for Mary; stay: I am sure you will have the still greater goodness of going yourself into my bedroom, and bringing me the small inlaid box which you will find on the upper shelf of the closet.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Finally, the conversation turned to music—I am not sure that my uncle did not artfully bring it there, and the Prince, hearing from him of my tastes, would have it that I should then and there sit down at the wonderful little piano, all inlaid with mother-of-pearl, which stood in the corner, and play him the accompaniment to his song.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)