lay out vs tell

lay out and tell both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
lay out	No	No	Yes	No
tell	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, tell is a hypernym of lay out; that is, tell is a word with a broader meaning than lay out:

Other hypernyms of lay out include say, state.

lay out (verb)	tell (verb)
get ready for a particular purpose or event	discern or comprehend
provide a detailed plan or design	mark as different
bring forward and present to the mind	let something be known
lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line	narrate or give a detailed account of
spend or invest	give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
	give evidence
	express in words
	inform positively and with certainty and confidence