From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlay something ↔ aside phrasal verb1 to stop using something and put it down, especially so you can do something else SYN put aside Richard had laid aside his book to watch what was happening.2 STOP DOING somethingto stop behaving in a particular way, or stop having particular feelings, especially so you can achieve something SYN put aside On the day of the wedding, all arguments between the families were laid aside. As a doctor, you often need to lay aside your personal feelings.3 KEEP/STORE (also lay something ↔ by) to keep something, especially money, so you can use it in the future SYN put by She’d laid aside a few pounds each week from her wages. → lay→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
lay aside• I lay the transcript aside and lean out of the window.• It boiled, and she laid the knitting aside and made tea.• He laid his tackle aside and opened Müller's report.• After a while, he laid his book aside and sat there, his head tilted back, his thoughts adrift.• Coffin laid the papers aside and went to the window to look out.• There was no question however of laying it aside, of shedding his image, his crest, his coat of arms. 