lair

UK: /ˈlɛə^r/ US: /lɛr/ ,(lâr)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lair¹ /lɛr/   n. [countable]

1. a den or resting place of a wild animal.
2. a secret hiding place or base of operations;
   hideout:
   a pirate's lair.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lair¹  (lâr), n. 

1. a den or resting place of a wild animal:
   The cougar retired to its lair.
2. a secluded or hidden place, esp. a secret retreat or base of operations;
   a hideout or hideaway:
   a pirate's lair.
3. British Terms a place in which to lie or rest;
   a bed.

v.t. 

4. to place in a lair.
5. to serve as a lair for.

v.i. 

6. to go to, lie in, or have a lair.

• bef. 900; Middle English leir, Old English leger; cognate with Dutch, Old High German leger bed, camp; akin to lie²

lair²  (lâr), n. 

1. British Terms mud;
   mire.

v.i. 

2. Scottish Terms to sink or stick in mud or mire.

• Old Norse leir clay, loam
• verb, verbal use of Middle English lair clay, mire 1250–1300

lair³  (lâr), n. [Chiefly Scot.]

1. British Terms lore;
   learning.

• Middle English (north and Scots) lare, Old English lār lore

lair⁴  (lâr), n. [Australian Informal.]

1. British Terms a man who dresses garishly and is crude or vulgar;
   showoff.

• back formation from lairy 1930–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lair / lɛə/ noun

1. the resting place of a wild animal
2. a place of seclusion or hiding

verb

1. (intransitive) (esp of a wild animal) to retreat to or rest in a lair
2. (transitive) to drive or place (an animal) in a lair

Etymology: Old English leger; related to lie² and Old High German leger bed

lair / ler/ noun , verb

1. a Scots word for mire

Etymology: from Old Norse leir mud

lair / lɛə/ noun

1. a person who dresses ostentatiously and enjoys showing off

verb

1. (intr; followed by up or around) to behave or dress like a lair

Etymology: perhaps from leer