overlay

verb over·lay \ ˌō-vər-ˈlā \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of overlay

overlaid play \ˌō-vər-ˈlād\; overlaying

transitive verb

1 a : to lay or spread over or across : superimpose

b : to prepare an overlay for

2 : overlie 2

See overlay defined for English-language learners

See overlay defined for kids

Examples of overlay in a Sentence

you should apply a coat of primer first, and then overlay it with two coats of paint
cedar shingles overlaying one another on the roof

Recent Examples of overlay from the Web

Facebook had another program that let advertisers overlay their own data with third-party firms, called Managed Custom Audiences.

— Bloomberg.com, "Powell: Moderate Wage Gains Show Job Market Not Excessively Tight," 6 Apr. 2018
Related Kawchuk is a researcher on ProjectDR, an augmented reality system that can map internal medical scans into three-dimensional images overlaid on a patient’s body, either with a video projector or via AR smart glasses.

— tom metcalfe /, NBC News, "Augmented reality lets doctors peer inside the body like never before," 14 Feb. 2018
His bed was overlaid with cardboard and tucked into a cleft of piers and brush.

— ted jackson, NOLA.com, "The search for Jackie Wallace," 3 Feb. 2018
The firm malt body is overlaid with clove, banana and pineapple.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Two new breweries to top your beer bucket list for 2018," 11 Jan. 2018
Researchers recently tested the hypothesis by overlaying nest-structure data on three different phylogenetic trees, thought to represent the evolutionary relations among 281 Australian passerine species.

— kat long, Scientific American, "Bird Nests Used to Look More Like Fortresses," 1 May 2017
Your own party appears as sprite drawings that are overlaid on the grid squares closest to you; this is odd, given that the enemy party members are in full 3D on the same grid.

— samuel axon, Ars Technica, "Hands-on with Bard’s Tale 4, the first proper series entry in 30 years," 26 Mar. 2018
The City of Brookfield proposed a tax increment financing district or TIF District 7 on the land, which would overlay a portion of TIF District 6.

— karen pilarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brookfield Community Development Authority gives green light for Milwaukee Tool expansion," 31 Jan. 2018
An intact bowl, overlaid with a golden glaze, shows a valet attending to a cheetah; the animals were trained by the Fatimids to hunt gazelle.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Landmark Exhibition Takes You Inside the Exuberant, Diverse World of the Fatimid Dynasty," 21 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overlay.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of overlay

14th century

See Words from the same year

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

NEW! Time Traveler

overlay Synonyms

Synonyms

blanket, carpet, coat, cover, overlie, overspread, sheet;

cloak, clothe, curtain, veil;

circle, encircle, encompass;

Other Handicraft Terms

biscuit, darn, tambour, wrought

overlay

noun over·lay \ ˈō-vər-ˌlā \

Definition of overlay

: a covering either permanent or temporary: such as

a : an ornamental veneer

b : a decorative and contrasting design or article placed on top of a plain one

c : a transparent sheet containing graphic matter to be superimposed on another sheet

See overlay defined for English-language learners

Examples of overlay in a Sentence

a silver ring with gold overlay
The wooden table has a marble overlay.

Recent Examples of overlay from the Web

For instance, a photo overlay of a flag or banner is highly impersonal, highly formal.

— ben popken, NBC News, "#MeToo Isn’t Just ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ for Women," 18 Oct. 2017
And the classic shoe construction of overlays and underlays offered Ryo-san a lot of opportunities to apply his knowledge about material usage and construction.

— jonathan evans, Esquire, "How This Truly Exceptional Adidas Collaboration Came Together," 1 Sep. 2017
The Morrison Bridge reopened to all traffic around 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct 29 after it was closed for the installation of an epoxy overlay.

— rosemarie stein, OregonLive.com, "Portland Metro Monday Traffic: Sunset crash near zoo cleared; backup remains to Hillsboro," 30 Oct. 2017
Costa Mesa’s small-lot ordinance and urban plans and overlay districts are set to go back under the microscope following a lengthy joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission on Tuesday night.

— luke money, Daily Pilot, "Costa Mesa to consider changing small-lot ordinance and other development standards," 13 Sep. 2017
Series One #C12 Coachman collection. Galvanized steel with a PVC overlay; insulated.

— elle decor staff, ELLE Decor, "Ranch Dressing," 5 July 2012
Not only is there a colorful and super-adorable Halloween overlay in Cars Land, but there are devilish treats all over both parks, and clever foods galore.

— a.j. wolfe, Los Angeles Magazine, "The 10 Tastiest Halloween Treats at Disneyland This Year," 12 Oct. 2017
For starters, Leslie stepped out in a gorgeous custom black gown with sheer overlay by Christian Siriano.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "Leslie Jones Looked Flawless on the Emmys Red Carpet," 18 Sep. 2017
The Victorian gown with a Honiton lace overlay was worn by 62 babies during its lifespan, The Telegraph reports.

— katie jones, Town & Country, "Royal Baby News: Everything We Know So Far," 4 Sep. 2017

First Known Use of overlay

15th century

See Words from the same year

in the meaning defined above

NEW! Time Traveler

OVERLAY Defined for English Language Learners

overlay

verb

Definition of overlay for English Language Learners

: to cover (something) with a layer of another material

overlay

noun

Definition of overlay for English Language Learners

: material that covers the complete surface or part of the surface of something and that changes its appearance
: a transparent sheet with information or pictures on it that is placed on top of another sheet to change what is being shown