- set in the surface, as a design in wood
- having such a design or inlay: an inlaid table
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•laid /ˈɪnˌleɪd, ɪnˈleɪd/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- decorated with a design set into the surface:an inlaid table.
in•laid
(in′lād′, in lād′),USA pronunciation adj.
- set into the surface of something:an inlaid design on a chest.
- decorated or made with a design set into the surface:an inlaid table.
- past participle of inlay 1590–1600
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
inlaid /ˈɪnˌleɪd; ɪnˈleɪd/ adj
in•lay /v. ˈɪnˌleɪ, ˌɪnˈleɪ; n. ˈɪnˌleɪ/USA pronunciation
v., -laid, -lay•ing, n.
v. [~ + object]
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v. [~ + object]
- to decorate (an object) with shaped pieces of contrasting material set in its surface, so that the surface is flat:inlaid the table with brass and ivory.
- to put (pieces of wood, etc.) onto the surface of an object:inlaid the ivory and brass into the table.
n. [countable]
- inlaid work.
- Dentistrya tooth filling of hard, long-lasting material first shaped to fit a prepared cavity:an inlay of gold.
in•lay
(v. in′lā′, in′lā′;n. in′lā′),USA pronunciation v., -laid, -lay•ing, n.
v.t.
n.
in′lay′er, n.
v.t.
- to decorate (an object) with layers of fine materials set in its surface:to inlay a chest with lighter wood.
- Dentistryto insert or apply (layers of fine materials) in the surface of an object:to inlay marble in a tabletop.
- Botany[Hort.]to place (a fitted scion) into a prepared stock, as in a method of grafting.
n.
- inlaid work.
- a layer of fine material inserted in something else, esp. for ornament.
- a design or decoration made by inlaying.
- Dentistrya filling of metal, porcelain, or the like, that is first shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into it.
- Botany[Hort.]See inlay graft.
- the act or process of inlaying.
- in-1 + lay1 1590–1600
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
inlay vb /ɪnˈleɪ/ ( -lays, -laying, -laid) (transitive)
- to decorate (an article, esp of furniture, or a surface) by inserting pieces of wood, ivory, etc, into prepared slots in the surface
- a filling, made of gold, porcelain, etc, inserted into a cavity and held in position by cement
- decoration made by inlaying
- an inlaid article, surface, etc
'inlaid' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):