verb

1. (chiefly US) (of an employer) To dismiss (workers) from employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume or through no fault of the worker, often with a severance package.

2. (of a bookmaker) To place all or part of a bet with another bookmaker in order to reduce risk.

3. To cease, quit, stop (doing something).

   “Lay off the singing, will you! I'm trying to study.”

Synonyms: let go, redundant