layer

[ ley-er ]

noun

1. a thickness of some material laid on or spread over a surface:

   a layer of soot on the windowsill; two layers of paint.

2. something lying over or under something else; a level or tier:

   There can be multiple layers of metaphor in a single poem.

3. a bed; stratum:

   alternating layers of basalt and sandstone.

4. a person or thing that lays (often used in combination): a bricklayer.

   a carpet layer;

   a bricklayer.

5. a hen kept for egg production.
6. one of several items of clothing worn one on top of the other.
7. Horticulture.
   1. a shoot or twig that is induced to root while still attached to the living stock, as by bending and covering with soil.
   2. a plant so propagated.
8. Ropemaking. a machine for laying rope or cable.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a layer of.
2. to form or arrange in layers.
3. to arrange or wear (clothing) in layers:

   You can layer this vest over a blouse or sweater.

4. to cut (hair) in overlapping layers of different lengths:

   My hairdresser insisted on layering my hair at my last visit—I rather like it this way.

5. Horticulture. to propagate by layering.

verb (used without object)

1. to separate into or form layers.
2. (of a garment) to permit of wearing in layers; be used in layering:

   Frilly blouses don't layer well.

layer

/ ˈleɪə /

noun

1. a thickness of some homogeneous substance, such as a stratum or a coating on a surface
2. one of four or more levels of vegetation defined in ecological studies: the ground or moss layer, the field or herb layer, the shrub layer, and one or more tree layers
3. a laying hen
4. horticulture
   1. a shoot or branch rooted during layering
   2. a plant produced as a result of layering

verb

1. to form or make a layer of (something)
2. to take root or cause to take root by layering

Other Words From

• lay·er·a·ble adjective
• in·ter·lay·er noun
• in·ter·lay·er verb (used with object)
• non·lay·ered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of layer¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English leyer, legger; lay ¹, -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of layer¹

C14 leyer, legger, from lay ¹+ -er ¹

Example Sentences

Several theories about the mugs and vases were formulated on myths, but few of them were ever tested to reveal their exact ingredients until the truth was extracted layer by layer.

From Science Daily

From a green American football jersey, combined with a layered frilly red dress styled as a skirt - in the colours of the Zambian flag to pay homage to 60 years of independence.

From BBC

Her religion added a layer of complexity to what happened, she explains.

From BBC

The core’s layers span the time when archaeological evidence points to humans first reaching Lutruwita.

From Science Magazine

“There are a lot of layers to this.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bed
• blanket
• coat
• floor
• row
• sheet
• slab
• thickness