inlay

UK: noun: /ˈɪnleɪ/, verb: /ˌɪnˈleɪ/

US: /v. ˈɪnˌleɪ, ˌɪnˈleɪ; n. ˈɪnˌleɪ/

US: (v. in′lā′, in′lā′; n. in′lā′)

Inflections of 'inlay' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

inlays

v 3rd person singular

inlaying

v pres p

inlaid

v past

inlaid

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•lay /v. ˈɪnˌleɪ, ˌɪnˈleɪ; n. ˈɪnˌleɪ/   v., -laid, -lay•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. 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.
2. to put (pieces of wood, etc.) onto the surface of an object:
   inlaid the ivory and brass into the table.

n. [countable]

3. inlaid work.
4. Dentistry a tooth filling of hard, long-lasting material first shaped to fit a prepared cavity:
   an inlay of gold.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•lay  (v. in′lā′, in′lā′;n. in′lā′), v., -laid, -lay•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to decorate (an object) with layers of fine materials set in its surface:
   to inlay a chest with lighter wood.
2. Dentistry to insert or apply (layers of fine materials) in the surface of an object:
   to inlay marble in a tabletop.
3. Botany [Hort.] to place (a fitted scion) into a prepared stock, as in a method of grafting.

n. 

4. inlaid work.
5. a layer of fine material inserted in something else, esp. for ornament.
6. a design or decoration made by inlaying.
7. Dentistry a filling of metal, porcelain, or the like, that is first shaped to fit a cavity and then cemented into it.
8. Botany [Hort.] See inlay graft. 
9. the act or process of inlaying.

• in-¹ + lay¹ 1590–1600

in′lay′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inlay verb / ɪnˈleɪ/ ( -lays, -laying, -laid)(transitive)

1. to decorate (an article, esp of furniture, or a surface) by inserting pieces of wood, ivory, etc, into prepared slots in the surface

noun / ˈɪnˌleɪ/

1. a filling, made of gold, porcelain, etc, inserted into a cavity and held in position by cement
2. decoration made by inlaying
3. an inlaid article, surface, etc

ˈinˌlayer noun