Library / English Dictionary

INLAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: inlaid   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

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)

 II. (verb) 

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)

Credits