lie in state
(redirected from Lying in state)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to Lying in state: Lie in state
lie in state
Of a deceased person's body, to be on public display so that citizens are able to mourn before the body is buried. The body of the ruthless dictator lay in state for two weeks, and public mourning was enforced by his son, who has taken over the leadership position.
lie in state
[for a dead body] to be on display for public mourning. The president will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Mourners filed past the leader where he lay in state.
lie in state
see under in state.