inlay
inlay Lexical Profile
inlay Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A decorative design or material, such as wood, ivory, or mother-of-pearl, set into the surface of an object so that it lies flush with the surrounding area.
"The antique tabletop featured an intricate mother-of-pearl inlay."
A custom-made dental filling made of gold, porcelain, or composite resin that is cemented into a prepared cavity in a tooth.
"The dentist recommended a porcelain inlay to restore the damaged molar."
• verb
To ornament an object by embedding pieces of a different material flush into its surface.
"The artisan will inlay the wooden jewelry box with strips of brass and silver."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun, 'inlay' is stressed on the first syllable (IN-lay); as a verb, it is typically stressed on the second syllable (in-LAY), and its past tense and past participle form is 'inlaid'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in late Middle English as a compound of the prefix 'in-' and the verb 'lay', originally meaning to embed decorative material into a surface.