in·lay

verb

/ˌɪnˈleɪ/

[often passive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they inlay	/ˌɪnˈleɪ/ /ˌɪnˈleɪ/
he / she / it inlays	/ˌɪnˈleɪz/ /ˌɪnˈleɪz/
past simple inlaid	/ˌɪnˈleɪd/ /ˌɪnˈleɪd/
past participle inlaid	/ˌɪnˈleɪd/ /ˌɪnˈleɪd/
-ing form inlaying	/ˌɪnˈleɪɪŋ/ /ˌɪnˈleɪɪŋ/

to decorate the surface of something by putting pieces of wood or metal into it in such a way that the surface remains smooth镶嵌；把（图案等）嵌入
- A is inlaid (with B) The lid of the box had been inlaid with silver.盒盖上镶嵌着银饰。
- B is inlaid (into A) Gold and silver had been inlaid into the lid of the box.盒盖上镶嵌着金和银。
Topics Buildingsc2
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘lay something in a place in order to hide or preserve it’): from in- ‘into’ + lay (verb).

noun

/ˈɪnleɪ/

[countable, uncountable]

a design or pattern on a surface made by setting wood or metal into it; the material that this design is made of镶嵌艺术；镶嵌装饰（或图案）；镶嵌材料
- The table was decorated with gold inlay.桌子装饰着黄金镶嵌的图案。
Topics Buildingsc2
Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘lay something in a place in order to hide or preserve it’): from in- ‘into’ + lay (verb).