Meanings
present singular third person prelays · participle present prelaying · participle past prelaid · past prelaid
- To record music and other sound elements at the correct time code locations on a master format without regard to final levels and mixing.
He'll be responsible for prelaying sound effects for film and television.
1990, The Hollywood Reporter, volume 313, numbers 18-34, page 181 more example
In this way, dialog, music and effects elements can be prelaid to hard disk or MO […]
1995, The Mix, volume 19, numbers 7-12, page 74
plural prelays
- The act of prelaying.
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.
2002, Barbara Clark, Susan J. Spohr, Guide to Postproduction for TV and Film: Managing the Process
- not comparableBefore a bird lays eggs.
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%.
2012, Donald D. Bell, William D. Weaver, Commercial Chicken Meat and Egg Production
Origin
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Cite this entry
prelay. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prelay
“prelay.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prelay. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “prelay,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/prelay.
Source: prelay on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.