rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryoverlayCovering layer
noun / verb

overlay

oh-vur-LAY/ˌəʊvərˈleɪ/

A layer placed over something.

A transparent overlay covers the landscape drawing without hiding it.

Hands place a transparent tracing sheet over a landscape drawing, original visible beneath the new top layer, no text.
Etymology
overOld Englishover, above
+layOld Englishto place, lay down

The pieces express placing something over something else. The covering sense keeps that concrete image: material laid on top becomes a layer covering the surface beneath.

In context

NASA Night Sky Network175:14
you can select any u.s state or any country around the world and you can overlay it on top of the moon drag it and so you can compare landforms on the moon
Global Moon Party - Kickoff International Observe the Moon Night

More examples

  • The table has a thin wood overlay.
  • The designer overlays the photograph with a grid.
  • We overlaid the old map with a transparent street plan.

Forms

overlay · overlays · overlaid · overlaying

Similar words

coating
Usually a substance applied directly, rather than a separate sheet.
superimpose
Emphasizes placing one image over another so both remain visible.