layer
//ˈleɪ̯ɚ//
Forms
- Plural
- layers
- present (v1)
- layer
- past (v2)
- layered
- past participle (v3)
- layered
- present participle
- layering
- 3rd person singular
- layers
Definitions
1.A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
- After the first coat of paint dried, he applied another layer.
- Wrap the loaf in two layers of aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.
- It's cold now but it will warm up this afternoon. Make sure you wear layers.
2.A (usually) horizontal deposit; a stratum.
- I find seven-layer cake a bit too rich.
- Sometimes, the underlying layers are exposed by erosion, revealing the story of the rocks like an open book.
3.One of the items in a hierarchy.
4.One in a stack of (initially transparent) drawing surfaces that comprise an image; used to keep elements of an image separate so that they can be modified independently from one another.
1.To cut or divide into layers.
2.To arrange in layers.
- Layer the ribbons on top of one another to make an attractive pattern.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2385
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
Appears at first glance to be from Middle English leyer, leyare (“a layer of stones or bricks”), equivalent to lay + -er. In which case, ultimately identical to etymology 2 below. For the pronunciation compare prayer.