layer Meaning & Definition
What Does Layer Mean?
Layer is used as a noun meaning A single thickness of some material covering a surface. It can also mean An item of clothing worn under or over another. As a verb, it means To cut or divide into layers. As a verb, it means To cut or divide (something) into layers.
Layer in Brief
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈleɪ̯ɚ// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | lay and stratum |
| Plural | layers |
| Verb forms | layers, layering, layered |
Layer Definition (Noun)
- A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
Wrap the loaf in two layers of aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.
- An item of clothing worn under or over another.
It's cold now but it will warm up this afternoon. Make sure you wear layers.
- A (usually) horizontal deposit; a stratum.
I find seven-layer cake a bit too rich.
- One of the items in a hierarchy.
mired in layers of deceit
- 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.
- One of the seven network switch pieces in the Open Systems Interconnection model: application, presentation, session, transport, network, data link, and physical.
- An alternative keymap accessed through a modifier key or toggle.
Layer as a Verb
- To cut or divide into layers.
- To arrange in layers.
Layer the ribbons on top of one another to make an attractive pattern.
Noun
- A person who lays anything, such as tiles or a wager.
- A mature female bird, insect, etc. that is able to lay eggs.
As for which hen we'll cull for next Sunday's dinner, we certainly won't eat Henrietta yet — she's still a prime layer.
- A hen kept to lay eggs; a breed of chicken bred to maximize laying output.
We keep a flock of layers and flock of broilers.
- A shoot of a plant, laid underground for growth.
Noun
- (by analogy to a stack of transparencies) 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.
Verb
- To cut or divide (something) into layers
- To arrange (something) in layers.
Layer the ribbons on top of one another to make an attractive pattern.
Noun
- A person who lays things, such as tiles.
- A hen kept to lay eggs.
Synonyms of Layer
Layer synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Layer
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Layer in a Sentence
Wrap the loaf in two layers of aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.
After the first coat of paint dried, he applied another layer.
It's cold now but it will warm up this afternoon. Make sure you wear layers.
I find seven-layer cake a bit too rich.
mired in layers of deceit
Layer the ribbons on top of one another to make an attractive pattern.
As for which hen we'll cull for next Sunday's dinner, we certainly won't eat Henrietta yet — she's still a prime layer.
When dealing with an infestation of headlice, the first step is to eliminate the layers.
We keep a flock of layers and flock of broilers.
Word Forms & Grammar
layer (plural layers)
layer (third-person singular simple present layers, present participle layering, simple past and past participle layered)
Words That Rhyme With Layer
Origin of Layer
Origin 1: 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.
Origin 2: However, this word layer (referring to a thickness of a material covering a surface) has also been argued to be from a respelling of an obsolete sense of the word lair that was once used by farmers, which had to do with soil. The connecting sense between the usual meaning of lair and the specialised farming meaning was: an area where cows typically rest, the ground being fertilised by their waste. Related to lie, ledger.
Origin 3: From lay + -er.
How Do You Say Layer?
The standard pronunciation of layer is //ˈleɪ̯ɚ//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Layer
Is layer a noun or a verb?
Layer is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for layer?
Close synonyms of layer are lay and stratum. See the full list of layer synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of layer?
The plural of layer is layers.
What is the past tense of layer?
The past tense of layer is layered. The present participle is layering.