Final answer:
The word 'lie' means both 'to not tell the truth' and 'to recline or be in a horizontal position,' such as lying on the ground. 'Lay' is the past tense of 'lie' when referring to reclining, and a person who lies does so knowingly against the truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word 'lie' has two primary meanings in English. Firstly, it means to not tell the truth, which is a verb describing a situation where someone speaks falsely or deceptively. The second meaning of 'lie' refers to the action of putting oneself in a horizontal position, such as lying down on the ground or on a bed.
This is also a verb but it describes a physical state or action. Furthermore, it's important to note that 'lay' is the past tense of 'lie' when referring to the act of reclining, which often leads to confusion between the two verbs.
Considering this explanation, the correct meanings of the word 'lie' with respect to the choices provided in the question are: 1) To not tell the truth and 2) to lie on the ground. The distinction is significantly relevant, as a person who tells a lie is doing so with a consciousness that their statement is not in alignment with the truth.
This contrasts with someone who is simply careless with the truth or has no intent to convey factual information accurately, which doesn't necessarily involve the same kind of deliberate deception.