Showing results for "superimposed"

• past tense form of superimpose.
• past participle of superimpose.

superimposed

American  

[soo-per-im-pohzd] / ˌsu pər ɪmˈpoʊzd /

adjective

1. being or relating to something that is placed over something else, usually characterized by some degree of transparency so that both the background and foreground objects are visible.

   The title credits appeared over the dusky opening scene in superimposed white text.

2. Geology. (of a stream or drainage system) having a course not adjusted to the structure of the rocks presently undergoing erosion but determined instead by a prior erosion cycle or by formerly overlying rocks or sediments.

3. Botany. (of a plant part) growing one over another, but separately, as in layers.

   The superimposed whorls of petals give these begonia blossoms a roselike appearance.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of superimpose.

Etymology

Origin of superimposed

First recorded in 1795–1805; superimpose + -ed ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

superimposed

Much like a person's left and right hands mirror one another but cannot be perfectly superimposed, many biological structures have a preferred orientation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026

These structures have a built-in twist, either left- or right-handed, that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2026

A flash of superimposed text identifies them as “*Very certified*, extremely serious ballet experts.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

Often when shows appear "clunky" or inauthentic, the review suggested, it was because "diversity seems superimposed rather than arising out of the subject".

From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026

But the most likely case is that interstellar communication will be a kind of palimpsest, like the palimpsests of ancient writers short of papyrus or stone who superimposed their messages on top of preexisting messages.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan