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LAYING
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The production of eggs (especially in birds)
Synonyms:
egg laying; laying
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Hypernyms ("laying" is a kind of...):
birth; birthing; giving birth; parturition (the process of giving birth)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb lay
Context examples:
“And very wet it seems to have made you,” said Holmes laying his hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Now, suppose that a train halted under such a window, would there be any difficulty in laying a body upon the roof?
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He put his hands on the Professor's shoulder, and laying his head on his breast, cried for a while silently, whilst we stood unmoving.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
The old fascination of his neck was there, and there was sweetness in the thought of laying her hands upon it.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Understanding how the different mineral nanostructures contribute to strengthening the eggshell could allow scientists to genetically select laying hens based on specific traits, which would put healthier, more resistant eggs into circulation.
(Study paves way for healthier and more robust eggs, University of Granada)
These poor lads have chosen me cap'n, after your desertion, sir—laying a particular emphasis upon the word desertion.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
At first his countenance was illuminated with pleasure, but as he continued, thoughtfulness and sadness succeeded; at length, laying aside the instrument, he sat absorbed in reflection.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
A taxonomic class of egg-laying, endothermic vertebrates.
(Aves, NCI Thesaurus)
The scientists also found that VU041 reduced egg laying after blood feeding.
(Novel insecticide blocks mosquitoes’ ability to urinate, NIH)
“The time and energy finches spend spooking themselves by fleeing when they are not in danger could be better spent looking for food, mating, laying eggs, and rearing their young.”
(A decade after the predators have gone, Galapagos Island finches are still being spooked, University of Cambridge)
