Definitions for overlay

• Definition
• Anagrams (186)

overlay o·ver·lay

Spelling: [verb oh-ver-ley; noun oh-ver-ley]

IPA: /verb ˌoʊ vərˈleɪ; noun ˈoʊ vərˌleɪ/

Overlay is a 7 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 13 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 14 points.

You can make 186 anagrams from letters in overlay (aelorvy).

Definitions for overlay

noun

1. something laid over something else; covering.
2. a layer or decoration of something applied:
3. Printing. a shaped piece of paper, or a sheet of paper reinforced at the proper places by shaped pieces, put on the tympan of a press to increase or equalize the impression. a method of preparing copy for multicolor printing, in which matter for each color is prepared on a transparent sheet that is placed over a key plate, usually the one to be printed in black. the sheet or sheets so prepared.
4. a sheet of transparent paper placed over a photograph, a dummy, or other artwork for noting corrections, instructions, mechanical separations, etc.
5. Computers. software or data in external storage and brought into main storage for execution by replacing or augmenting software or data already there.
6. a transparent sheet giving special military information not ordinarily shown on maps, used by being placed over the map on which it is based.
7. a decorative piece of leather or other material stitched on a shoe.
8. Scot. a cravat.

verb

1. simple past tense of overlie.

verb (used with object)

1. to lay or place (one thing) over or upon another.
2. to cover, overspread, or surmount with something.
3. to finish with a layer or applied decoration of something:
4. Printing. to put an overlay upon.
5. to lie over or upon, as a covering or stratum.
6. to smother (an infant) by lying upon it, as in sleep.

Origin of overlay

Middle English word dating back to 1250-1300; See origin at over-, lay¹

Examples for overlay

Phillips mediates the darkness of the crime with an overlay of fiction.

There is a disagreeable saline flavour that we cannot remove nor overlay.

The overlay of his, what, his inner beauty on that exterior, it disoriented her.

Waspiness is an overlay on human character, like the porcelain veneer that protects the biting surface of a damaged tooth.

But, it may be asked, what has become of the beds that overlay the granite?

You can also overlay census data showing where the population of women of reproductive age (15–44) live.

How we should tremble to overlay the record of it with our words!

Ah, no; to overlay it with new shames, to groan over in new vigils.

The top is covered with a Swiss overlay pattern, made of split sticks.

And the disclosure that Abedin is pregnant added an overlay of pathos to the seamy tale.