verb
overlie
To lie on top of or cover something.
Thick layers of clay overlie the bedrock beneath this field.
Etymology
The compound joins a position-word with the verb for resting in place. Something that overlies another thing lies above it or covers its surface.
More examples
- Soft tissue overlies the bone.
- The old floorboards overlie a concrete foundation.
- Fine sand overlay the gravel along the riverbank.
Forms
overlie · overlies · overlay · overlain · overlying