lay up

lay up (third-person singular simple present lays up, present participle laying up, simple past and past participle laid up or layed up)

1. (transitive) To store; to put by.

   We must lay up enough stores to get us through the winter.

   • 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

     I employed myself in making, as well as I could, a great many baskets, both to carry earth or to carry or lay up anything, as I had occasion; and though I did not finish them very handsomely, yet I made them sufficiently serviceable for my purpose...

2. (transitive) To disable or incapacitate; to confine to bed.

   He was laid up for six weeks with pneumonia.

3. (transitive) To take out of active service.

   The battleship is presently laid up in Portsmouth Harbour.

4. (intransitive) To go out of active service.

   The cruise ship lays up in November for the winter.

5. (transitive, basketball) To make a layup with (a basketball)

   He takes the pass, he drives, he lays it up and in.

6. (intransitive, golf) Deliberately to leave the ball further than necessary from the hole, so as to secure an easier succeeding shot.

   Rather than try to reach the green, he chose to lay up.

• Pauly, uplay