Meaning & use
thin layers
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Meanings
phraseplural
Several flat coverings or amounts of something that are very small in thickness.
Grammar: Always plural in this form; for one covering, use 'a thin layer'.
Patterns
- thin layers of something
- in thin layers
- apply something in thin layers
Spread the paint in thin layers so it dries evenly.
The cake had thin layers of cream between the sponge.
Dust had settled in thin layers on the old books.
phraseplural
Small, flat groups of something arranged one on top of another.
Grammar: Used with 'of' to say what the layers are made of: thin layers of rock.
Patterns
- thin layers of rock
- thin layers of material
- form thin layers
The cliff is made of thin layers of rock.
Scientists found thin layers of ash from the volcano.
The material forms thin layers when it cools.
Word forms
| singular | thin layer |
|---|
Common combinations
- in thin layers
- Apply the glue in thin layers.
- thin layers of paint
- The wall needs thin layers of paint.
- thin layers of rock
- The canyon shows thin layers of rock.
- spread in thin layers
- Spread the butter in thin layers on the bread.
- thin layers of dust
- Thin layers of dust covered the shelves.
Synonyms and how they differ
- coatings
- Coatings are coverings, often thin, but the word does not by itself say how thin; thin layers emphasizes the small thickness.
- sheets
- Sheets are broad, flat pieces, often larger and less precise than thin layers.
- strata
- Strata is a technical word for layers of rock or soil; thin layers is the everyday phrase.
Opposites
Word family
- layer noun
- A single flat covering or amount of something.
- layered adjective
- Arranged in layers.
- thinly adverb
- In a thin way; in small amounts.
Commonly confused: thin layers or thin layer?
thin layers vs thin layer
Thin layer is singular and needs 'a' or 'one': a thin layer of paint. Thin layers is plural: thin layers of paint.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'thin layers' correctly.
Choose one answer.
'In thin layers' is the correct plural phrase after a preposition. Option B is wrong because the plural 'layers' needs no 'a' and the singular 'layer' would need 'a'. Option C mixes 'a' with plural 'layers'. Option D is ungrammatical because 'thin layer' cannot directly modify 'cream' in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thin layers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.