overlay

[ verb oh-ver-ley; noun oh-ver-ley ]

/ verb ˌoʊ vərˈleɪ; noun ˈoʊ vərˌleɪ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: overlay / over laid / over laying / over-laid on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), o·ver·laid, o·ver·lay·ing.

to lay or place (one thing) over or upon another.

to cover, overspread, or surmount with something.

to finish with a layer or applied decoration of something: wood richly overlaid with gold.

Printing. to put an overlay upon.

noun

something laid over something else; covering.

a layer or decoration of something applied: an overlay of gold.

Printing.

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.
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.
the sheet or sheets so prepared.

a sheet of transparent paper placed over a photograph, a dummy, or other artwork for noting corrections, instructions, mechanical separations, etc.

Computers. software or data in external storage and brought into main storage for execution by replacing or augmenting software or data already there.

a transparent sheet giving special military information not ordinarily shown on maps, used by being placed over the map on which it is based.

a decorative piece of leather or other material stitched on a shoe.

Scot. a cravat.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of overlay

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at over-, lay¹

Words nearby overlay

Overland Park, overland stage, Overland Trail, overlap, overlarge, overlay, overlay denture, overlay glass, Overlea, overleaf, overleap

Other definitions for overlay (2 of 2)

overlay²

[ oh-ver-ley ]

/ ˌoʊ vərˈleɪ /

verb

simple past tense of overlie.

How to use overlay in a sentence

This is being made possible by way of a new “recipe” button overlaid on related TikTok food videos.
TikTok partners with Whisk to pilot a recipe-saving feature on food videos|Sarah Perez|February 11, 2021|TechCrunch
The team sketched out the idea by overlaying data about human behavior onto three well-studied wildlife corridors.
A new mapping method could help humans and wildlife coexist|Philip Kiefer|February 4, 2021|Popular-Science
We’ve been creating edited video segments with Robert doing voice over and overlaying animation all of which we’ve been posting to social.
Robert Downey Jr. is launching a new ‘rolling’ venture fund to back sustainability startups|Jonathan Shieber|January 27, 2021|TechCrunch
At times, the word is used as shorthand for images with overlaid text, but the core idea is that memes travel from one person to the next, online or off.
The country is being buffeted by groups that couldn’t exist 30 years ago|Philip Bump|January 27, 2021|Washington Post

A capture from BadVR’s augmented reality geospatial data environment, which allows users to visualize multiple live and historical datasets via overlays relevant to their environment.
BadVR is using government grants to build a business that’s independent of venture capital|Jonathan Shieber|December 31, 2020|TechCrunch
The cards can also be coated with a thin corn-based plastic overlay.
Wood Cards Are a Green Alternative to the Classic Plastic Gift Card|Daniel Gross|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Queen's couturier, Angela Kell, will create Prince George's replica, which will feature cap sleeves and a cotton lace overlay.
Rihanna Gets Turned Away From Abu Dhabi Mosque; Prince George Will Wear Replica of Historic Royal Gown at Christening|The Fashion Beast Team|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Phillips mediates the darkness of the crime with an overlay of fiction.
Murder, She Wrote: Jayne Anne Phillips on Her New Novel|Jane Ciabattari|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
You can also overlay census data showing where the population of women of reproductive age (15–44) live.
Interactive: The Geography of Abortion Access|Michael Keller, Allison Yarrow|January 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And the disclosure that Abedin is pregnant added an overlay of pathos to the seamy tale.
Weiner’s Last Words|Howard Kurtz|June 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
No matter how much overlay you pile on top of such a phobia to suppress it, it will continue to haunt you.
The Memory of Mars|Raymond F. Jones
The picture on the next stone, which is to overlay the first, gives more detail.
The Strand Magazine, Volume XXVII, January 1904, No. 157|Various
This is shown in the beaten bronzes, thin plates of which were used to overlay wooden forms.
History of Ancient Art|Franz von Reber
Wind from the small end of the pointed tin tubes called lady lock sticks, and have each layer slightly overlay the preceding one.
Suppers|Paul Pierce
But, it may be asked, what has become of the beds that overlay the granite?
A Book of the West. Volume I Devon|S. Baring-Gould

British Dictionary definitions for overlay

overlay

verb (ˌəʊvəˈleɪ) -lays, -laying or -laid (tr)

to lay or place something over or upon (something else)

(often foll by with) to cover, overspread, or conceal (with)

(foll by with) to cover (a surface) with an applied decorationebony overlaid with silver

to achieve the correct printing pressure all over (a forme or plate) by adding to the appropriate areas of the packing

noun (ˈəʊvəˌleɪ)

something that is laid over something else; covering

an applied decoration or layer, as of gold leaf

a transparent sheet giving extra details to a map or diagram over which it is designed to be placed

printing material, such as paper, used to overlay a forme or plate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

overlay

Origin of overlay

Words nearby overlay

Other definitions for overlay (2 of 2)

Words related to overlay

How to use overlay in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overlay