layer
Americannoun
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layers
plural
-
a thickness of some material laid on or spread over a surface.
a layer of soot on the windowsill; two layers of paint.
-
something lying over or under something else; a level or tier.
There can be multiple layers of metaphor in a single poem.
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a bed; stratum.
alternating layers of basalt and sandstone.
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a person or thing that lays (often used in combination): a bricklayer.
a carpet layer;
a bricklayer.
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a hen kept for egg production.
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one of several items of clothing worn one on top of the other.
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Horticulture.
-
a shoot or twig that is induced to root while still attached to the living stock, as by bending and covering with soil.
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a plant so propagated.
-
-
Ropemaking. a machine for laying rope or cable.
verb (used with object)
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layers,
present (3rd person singular)
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layered,
past participle, past
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layering
present participle
-
to make a layer of.
-
to form or arrange in layers.
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to arrange or wear (clothing) in layers.
You can layer this vest over a blouse or sweater.
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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.
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Horticulture. to propagate by layering.
verb (used without object)
-
layers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
layered,
past participle, past
-
layering
present participle
-
to separate into or form layers.
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(of a garment) to permit of wearing in layers; be used in layering.
Frilly blouses don't layer well.
noun
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a thickness of some homogeneous substance, such as a stratum or a coating on a surface
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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
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a laying hen
-
horticulture
-
a shoot or branch rooted during layering
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a plant produced as a result of layering
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verb
-
to form or make a layer of (something)
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to take root or cause to take root by layering
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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layersimple
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layerssimple
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have layeredperfect
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has layeredperfect
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am layeringprogressive
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are layeringprogressive
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is layeringprogressive
-
have been layeringperfect progressive
-
has been layeringperfect progressive
Past
-
layeredsimple
-
had layeredperfect
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was layeringprogressive
-
were layeringprogressive
-
had been layeringperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing layer
"Volcano!"
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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The Mark of Athena
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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:
"By removing NUDT5 rather than simply inhibiting it, we were able to uncover a hidden layer of biology that helps determine how cells respond to a clinically important drug."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 24, 2026
Female socialization adds another layer, teaching us that putting basic human needs last means you’re doing a good job.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026
The sprawling motor court and covered parking areas provide enough room for numerous vehicles, while a circular driveway adds another layer of privacy and convenience.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
“The partner layer is where we operate the company. Every partner has a mission statement and they own that mission, full stop.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
A layer of dust filmed the floor, and cobwebs drifted in every corner.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Your next step is to find a reputable bank that will add those extra layers of protection for you.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
Those that attempt to operate are usually covered in multiple layers of hedgehog-like drone defenses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
In a reel posted to Instagram, The Emmy-winning actor, 54, showed off her fresh do, with a blond blowout and layers that framed her smiling face.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
And, after digging through layers of internet ugliness, I found the last thing I expected: a reason to believe we might just make it out of our current mess.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
The music education methods of Orff, Dalcroze, Kodály, etc., offer easily implemented solutions to add layers of cognitively challenging musical activities to something as simple as a song.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Instead, it was a layered cake made from whipping butter and sugar until it was frothy and then sifting in the dry ingredients.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026
Scanlon would have everything from thin, shiny shellac to sturdier "Builder In A Bottle" gel manicures layered onto her nails every other week without fail.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
The Duo’s display structure requires a sandwich-like structure of carbon-based films layered with electrodes, high-strength glass, specialized adhesives and a titanium support plate, all of which make it substantially more expensive than pervious models.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026
With her layered hair and polished style, she looked the part of a suburban mom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
They climbed a staircase that was lined on the left by layered sheets of granite and echoed on the right by rows and rows of shelved books.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
Ms. Lee almost never uses figurative language—similes, metaphors, symbolism or anything that gives prose layering and subtext.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
The New York-born singer gained fame by layering his own music over clips of the popular video game “Fortnite” and with the viral TikTok track “Romantic Homicide.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
“We treat developers like public services instead of businesses, layering on expectation after expectation,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
The horizontal layering allows some seismic waves to travel long distances, while the vertical intrusions appear to disrupt and weaken others.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
He was sobbing, talking so fast his words were layering on top of each other.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
