tier

1
[ teer ]
See synonyms for: tiertiers on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. one of a series of rows or ranks rising one behind or above another, as of seats in an amphitheater, boxes in a theater, guns in a man-of-war, or oars in an ancient galley.

  2. one of a number of galleries, as in a theater.

  1. a layer; level; stratum: The wedding cake had six tiers.All three tiers of the firm's management now report to one director.

  2. Australian. a mountain range.

verb (used with object)
  1. to arrange in tiers.

verb (used without object)
  1. to rise in tiers.

Origin of tier

1
First recorded in 1560–70; earlier also tire, tyre, teare, from Middle French, Old French tire, tiere “order, row, rank,” from Germanic; compare Old English, Old Saxon tīr, Old High German zēri “glory, adornment”

Words Nearby tier

Other definitions for tier (2 of 2)

tier2
[ tahy-er ]

noun
  1. a person or thing that ties.

  2. Nautical. a short rope or band for securing a furled sail.

  1. New England. a child's apron or pinafore.

Origin of tier

2
First recorded in 1625–35; tie + -er1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tier in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tier (1 of 2)

tier1

/ (tɪə) /


noun
  1. one of a set of rows placed one above and behind the other, such as theatre seats

    • a layer or level

    • (in combination): a three-tier cake

  1. a rank, order, or row

verb
  1. to be or arrange in tiers

Origin of tier

1
C16: from Old French tire rank, of Germanic origin; compare Old English tīr embellishment

British Dictionary definitions for tier (2 of 2)

tier2

/ (ˈtaɪə) /


noun
  1. a person or thing that ties

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