overlay
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
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overlays
plural
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something laid over something else; covering.
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a layer or decoration of something applied.
an overlay of gold.
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Printing.
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a shaped piece of paper, or a sheet of paper reinforced at the proper places by shaped pieces, put on the tympan of a press to increase or equalize the impression.
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a method of preparing copy for multicolor printing, in which matter for each color is prepared on a transparent sheet that is placed over a key plate, usually the one to be printed in black.
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the sheet or sheets so prepared.
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a sheet of transparent paper placed over a photograph, a dummy, or other artwork for noting corrections, instructions, mechanical separations, etc.
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Computers. software or data in external storage and brought into main storage for execution by replacing or augmenting software or data already there.
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a transparent sheet giving special military information not ordinarily shown on maps, used by being placed over the map on which it is based.
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a decorative piece of leather or other material stitched on a shoe.
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Scot. a cravat.
verb
verb
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to lay or place something over or upon (something else)
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(often foll by with) to cover, overspread, or conceal (with)
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(foll by with) to cover (a surface) with an applied decoration
ebony overlaid with silver
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to achieve the correct printing pressure all over (a forme or plate) by adding to the appropriate areas of the packing
noun
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something that is laid over something else; covering
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an applied decoration or layer, as of gold leaf
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a transparent sheet giving extra details to a map or diagram over which it is designed to be placed
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printing material, such as paper, used to overlay a forme or plate
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of overlay
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at over-, lay 1
Explanation
To overlay is to cover with a coating or a layer, or to set one thing on top of another. A winter storm will sometimes overlay a dangerously slick coating of ice on top of the road. An artist might overlay a ceramic object with gold, or overlay one piece of paper on another in a collage. The layer itself, whether it's clear plastic or cement or silver, is also called an overlay. Another kind of overlay, dating from the 1930s, is the transparent sheet of paper in a book that covers a map or other full-page illustration.
Vocabulary lists containing overlay
"The Pale Mare" and "Caged Bird"
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Loser
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A series of colorful circles overlay Lee’s ink sketches.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
But a digital forensics expert told AFP's fact-checkers that the anomaly was the result of a failed text overlay by a news station that had syndicated the official feed.
From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026
“I just don’t think agentic AI overlay on going out, filling out a bunch of forms is really going to solve any consumer’s problems anytime soon,” he says on an analyst call.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
“I m not sure why he was sanctimonious and agressive when detailing the harvey weinstein allegations,” Epstein wrote. “now watching the overlay , its amazing.”
From Salon ● Feb. 6, 2026
On top of that, an overlay of floor wash antiseptic, seeping in from the corridors beyond.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Augmented reality is a technology that overlays digital displays against real-world surroundings.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
Investors should use fundamental overlays when buying laggards and avoid selling strong momentum tech stocks, Parker advises.
From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026
Asset quality risks are likely to be benign, as banks remain well-provisioned and focused on tactical provisioning for specific accounts rather than broad macro overlays.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 3, 2025
Augmented reality technology overlays computer-generated images over the physical world and is used in games like Pokémon Go.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2025
I stare at the overlays on the tinted windows, currently showing an empty car interior so that no one will be able to see us both inside.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Like other smart glasses, Specs will use AI to let people see digital elements overlaid onto the world.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
Another post showed a map of North America - including Canada and Mexico - and Greenland all overlaid with the US flag.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
AR glasses let users see the world around them, overlaid with three-dimensional graphics, a fusion of the real and digital worlds.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Scientists at paint manufacturer PPG built a database containing the properties of all of their products, overlaid with the laws of chemistry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 24, 2026
The physical conditions were overlaid with military regimentation far beyond anything imposed at the Rad Lab, even after its absorption into the bomb project.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
The trilogy artfully transcends the binaries of empire, overlaying the brute facts of economy and race with ripping anecdotes, splendid uniforms and sensual Indian architecture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
The caption simply stated the date — “9.27.25” — flanked by white heart emojis and audio of “La Vie En Rose” overlaying the display.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2025
This project invites viewers to consider what it means for a country to grow, and the advantages and disadvantages linked to that growth, by overlaying archival photographs from the 1940s-60s within current scenes.
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2025
A material like amber is formed over tens of thousands of years, when the heat and pressure of overlaying sediment causes a complex chemical reaction resulting in the resin-like stone.
From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2024
“High peaks, impassable cliffs, steep snow-slopes, and sharply descending glaciers could be seen in all directions, with stretches of snow-plain overlaying the ice sheet of the interior.”
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
