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Meaning & use

overlay

noun, verb·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈəʊvəleɪ/
US/ˈoʊvərleɪ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A layer of material placed on top of another surface, often for decoration or protection.

    Grammar: Countable: an overlay, overlays. Often followed by 'of': an overlay of gold.

    Patterns

    • an overlay of something
    • a decorative overlay
    • a protective overlay

    The table has a thin overlay of plastic to protect the wood.

    The map uses a colored overlay to show the flood zone.

    The artist applied a gold overlay to the frame.

  2. nouncountablecomputing

    In computing, a transparent layer of graphics or text placed over a base image or interface.

    Grammar: Often used in digital design and mapping.

    Patterns

    • a map overlay
    • an image overlay
    • a transparent overlay

    The app adds an overlay to show traffic conditions on the map.

    You can adjust the opacity of the overlay in the settings.

    The video editor placed a text overlay on the interview footage.

  3. verbtransitive

    To place one layer or material over another, often as decoration or reinforcement.

    Grammar: Takes an object: overlay something with something. Past tense and past participle can be 'overlaid'.

    Patterns

    • overlay something with something
    • overlay something on something
    • be overlaid with something

    The craftsman overlaid the wood with a thin sheet of silver.

    They overlaid the old map with new data.

    The floor was overlaid with a protective coating.

Word forms

pluraloverlays
past tenseoverlaid
past participleoverlaid
-ing formoverlaying

Common combinations

a decorative overlay
The vase has a decorative overlay of silver leaf.
a protective overlay
The screen has a protective overlay to prevent scratches.
map overlay
The weather app uses a map overlay to show rain patterns.
be overlaid with
The ancient manuscript was overlaid with gold leaf.

Synonyms and how they differ

covering
A general word for something that covers; overlay is more specific to a layer placed on top, often thin.
coating
A coating is a layer that covers a surface, often for protection; overlay can also be decorative.
lamination
Lamination is a specific type of protective overlay, usually using plastic.

Word family

overlaid adjective
Covered with a layer of something.
lay verb
To put something down flat.

Commonly confused: overlay or overlie?

overlay vs overlie

Overlie means to lie on top of something (e.g., rocks overlie others); overlay means to place a layer on top.

Practice

The designer added a colorful ______ to the map to highlight the parks.

Make it your own

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