layer

American  

[ley-er] / ˈleɪ ər /

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 British  

/ 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 Word Forms

• interlayer
  noun
• interlayer
  verb (used with object)
• layerable
  adjective
• nonlayered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of layer

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

Explanation

The noun layer describes a thin piece that's stacked on other thin pieces, like a layer of noodles in a lasagna dish. You can also apply a layer of paint to make your wall color more vivid. Layer can also be used figuratively to describe an abstract thickness or barrier. Celebrities are known to surround themselves with managers, agents, stylists, and friends — forming a layer between them and the prying public. Layer can also be a verb. You can layer your bed with blankets on a cold night, as a layer of ice forms on the sidewalks and streets outside.

Example Sentences

In the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer stretching from about 11km to 50 km above Earth's surface, CO2 behaves more like a cooling system.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Khan created a separate intelligence layer where the relational analysis can be done outside of the LLM.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

“Each added layer may reduce transparency, add another layer of fees, and weaken the investor’s visibility into the underlying asset,” Eric McCarthy, managing principal of the Atlanta-based investment firm Immoderata, told MarketWatch over email.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

"This could add another layer of stress to the nation's ability to reconstitute the weapons," Khan said, noting that rare earths are used in "everything from drones and interceptors to F-35s and precision-guided missiles."

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

A thick layer of dust has taken over the place.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

Related Words

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