What does inlaid mean?
Inlaid describes a surface that has been decorated by setting pieces of a different material into it, so that the added material sits level with the surrounding surface. Typical examples are a wooden table with a pattern of ivory, a sword hilt set with gold wire, or a floor with a mosaic of coloured stone. The word suggests careful, skilled craftsmanship and a degree of luxury, and it often appears in descriptions of antiques, museum pieces and fine furniture. It is usually followed by 'with' and the material used, as in 'inlaid with mother-of-pearl'. Because the decoration is embedded rather than applied on top, the finished surface is smooth to the touch, and that flush finish is what separates inlaid work from simple overlays or appliqué. Inlaid is the past participle of the verb inlay, and it works as an ordinary adjective as well. It also names a type of flooring in which the pattern runs through the full thickness of the material. It is a useful word for describing ornate objects with precision.
Decorated with pieces of another material set into a surface so as to be flush with it.
"The cabinet doors were inlaid with delicate panels of ebony and bone."
Usually followed by 'with' and the material used.
Past tense and past participle of inlay: to set pieces of a material into a surface as decoration.
"The craftsman inlaid the box lid with thin strips of brass."
Functions as the inflected form of inlay.
Inlaid work is set into the surface, not stuck on top, which is why a well-made piece feels perfectly smooth under your fingers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inlaid come from?
Inlaid is the past tense and past participle of the verb inlay, which is formed from the prefix in- and the verb lay. The verb is recorded in English from the 16th century. Lay comes from Old English lecgan, which is related to lie and has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as German legen and Dutch leggen.
Related word forms
How inlaid is actually used
Mostly used in descriptions of furniture, jewellery, weapons, architecture and craftwork. It is somewhat formal or literary in tone and usually suggests quality and skilled workmanship. It is typically followed by 'with' plus the material used.
Easily confused with inlaid
Inlaid decoration is set into a surface so it lies flush, whereas overlaid decoration is laid on top of the surface.
Here the pattern runs through the full thickness of the material, unlike a pattern printed only on its surface.