English edit

Etymology edit

pre- +‎ lay

Verb edit

prelay (third-person singular simple present prelays, present participle prelaying, simple past and past participle prelaid)

  1. To record music and other sound elements at the correct time code locations on a master format without regard to final levels and mixing.
    • 1990, The Hollywood Reporter, volume 313, numbers 18-34, page 18:
      He'll be responsible for prelaying sound effects for film and television.
    • 1995, The Mix, volume 19, numbers 7-12, page 74:
      In this way, dialog, music and effects elements can be prelaid to hard disk or MO []

Noun edit

prelay (plural prelays)

  1. The act of prelaying.
    • 2002, Barbara Clark, Susan J. Spohr, Guide to Postproduction for TV and Film: Managing the Process:
      If your show includes a lot of effects, for example, explosions, music, sound effects, or loud noises over romantic dialogue, then your sound-effects supervisor will probably recommend a predub or prelay.

Adjective edit

prelay (not comparable)

  1. Before a bird lays eggs.
    • 2012, Donald D. Bell, William D. Weaver, Commercial Chicken Meat and Egg Production:
      An optimum method for feeding calcium is to start feeding the layer level (3.25% or more) slightly before the first egg, because after hens start laying there is a negative calcium balance when consuming the prelay calcium level of 2.0%.

Anagrams edit