NOUN (2)

1. (dentistry) a filling consisting of a solid substance (as gold or porcelain) fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place;

2. a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared slots in a surface;


VERB (1)

1. decorate the surface of by inserting wood, stone, and metal;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Inlay \In"lay`\, n.
   Matter or pieces of wood, ivory, etc., inlaid, or prepared
   for inlaying; that which is inserted or inlaid for ornament
   or variety; as, ornamented with ivory inlay.
   [1913 Webster]

         Crocus and hyacinth with rich inlay
         Broidered the ground.                    --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

         The sloping of the moonlit sward
         Was damask work, and deep inlay
         Of braided blooms.                       --Tennyson.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Inlay \In*lay"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inlaied; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Inlaying.]
   To lay within; hence, to insert, as pieces of pearl, ivory,
   mother-of-pearl, choice woods, or the like, in a groundwork
   of some other material; to form an ornamental surface; to
   diversify or adorn with insertions.
   [1913 Webster]

         Look, how the floor of heaven
         Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold. --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         But these things are . . . borrowed by the monks to
         inlay their story.                       --Milton.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

inlay
    n 1: (dentistry) a filling consisting of a solid substance (as
         gold or porcelain) fitted to a cavity in a tooth and
         cemented into place
    2: a decoration made by fitting pieces of wood into prepared
       slots in a surface
    v 1: decorate the surface of by inserting wood, stone, and metal