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

/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

1. a person or thing that ties

tier

²

/ 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

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

Teams in the next group all have at least a 1 percent chance to win the title — but all are also clearly in a lower tier than the top three.

From FiveThirtyEight

The bottom performance tier of lefties, unsurprisingly, trails even further behind.

From FiveThirtyEight

The FT is planning another Global Boardroom event in November but with free and ticketed tiers starting at $65.

From Digiday

The next tier of distribution broadly depends on whether the US chooses to prioritize recipients’ personal risk or potential to spread the disease.

From Quartz

Now, with Bogdanović out and the Jazz needing to alter how they play, Mitchell has an opportunity to progress in areas that can nudge this team back toward the doorstep of a higher tier.

From FiveThirtyEight

An appearance in even a third-tier bowl is worth a couple million dollars.

From The Daily Beast

A two-tier system has been proposed, essentially creating a fast lane and a slow lane.

From The Daily Beast

Among the second-tier candidates, Whitaker was prone to going for applause lines over substance.

From The Daily Beast

The second-tier acts included The Black Keys, Mumford Sons, and more.

From The Daily Beast

And if it were a football team, it would have been relegated to the second tier.

From The Daily Beast

Put seven or eight plants on each stick and place them eight inches apart on tier poles.

From Project Gutenberg

Use in packing a plank or board, placing it against the front of the tier and bring the ends of the hands up against it.

From Project Gutenberg

In a box on the second tier sat the composers old father with his family.

From Project Gutenberg

He passes the cell-row on the opposite side, ascends the topmost tier, and finally reaches the ground floor containing my cell.

From Project Gutenberg

Past the tier of vacant cells, we ascend the stairway to the upper rotunda, on the left side of which is the Chaplain's office.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• category
• layer
• row