Inlay is a term used to describe the process of decorating a surface (e.g. wood, metal, or stone) by inserting small pieces of material into it. The most commonly used materials for inlay purposes are wood, metal, marble, or glass. Synonyms for the term inlay include intarsia, inlaid work, marquetry, and parquetry. Intarsia refers to inlaying pieces of wood to create a decorative pattern, while inlaid work is used to describe the act of inlaying various materials for decoration. Marquetry is a version of inlay that typically involves using wood veneers to create intricate designs, and parquetry refers to the process of inlaying wood to create geometric patterns, typically on floors.