tier

¹

[teer]

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.

3. a layer; level; stratum.

   The wedding cake had six tiers.

   All three tiers of the firm's management now report to one director.

4. Australian.,  a mountain range.

verb (used with object)

1. to arrange in tiers.

verb (used without object)

1. to rise in tiers.

tier

²

[tahy-er]

noun

1. a person or thing that ties.

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

3. New England.,  a child's apron or pinafore.

tier

¹

/ tɪə /

noun

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

2. 1. a layer or level

   2. ( in combination )

      a three-tier cake

3. a rank, order, or row

verb

1. to be or arrange in tiers

tier

²

/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

1. a person or thing that ties

Word History and Origins

Origin of tier¹

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”

Origin of tier²

First recorded in 1625–35; tie + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tier¹

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

Example Sentences

Never mind that it’s the second tier of college football.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Aidan Toner-Rodgers, 27, sprung to the upper tiers of economics as a graduate student late last year from virtually out of nowhere.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The company offers free and paid tiers to make artificial-intelligence-generated music.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It was Alexander’s idea, and a clever one, too, for the fern fronds served nicely as the three tiers of oars that jutted from each side of the ship.

Read more on Literature

His first assignment was a Nations League campaign, and his team pulled off an improbable promotion to the top tier thanks to last November's thumping 4-1 win over Iceland – and Montenegro's win against Turkey.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• category 
• layer 
• row