superimpose

verb

su·​per·​im·​pose ˌsü-pər-im-ˈpōz 

superimposed; superimposing; superimposes

transitive verb

: to place or lay over or above something

superimposed images

superimposition

ˌsü-pər-ˌim-pə-ˈzi-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Superimposition was one of the magical effects employed by early filmmakers. Using "mirror shots", with semitransparent mirrors set at 45° angles to the scene, they would superimpose shadowy images of ghosts or scenes from a character's past onto scenes from the present. Superimposing your own ideas on something, such as a historical event, has to be done carefully, since your ideas may change whenever you learn something new about the event.

Examples of superimpose in a Sentence

A triangle superimposed on an inverted triangle forms a six-pointed star.

Recent Examples on the Web

In another video, Martin looks confused as Grande aims her selfie camera at him with a filter activated that superimposes three white bunnies around his face. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 July 2024

In Louisiana in 2022, a political action committee’s satirical ad superimposed a Louisiana mayoral candidate’s face onto an actor portraying him as an underachieving high school student. —Ali Swenson, Fortune, 29 July 2024

Gawkers stopped to snap photos of the rotating illustration, which was superimposed atop the usual rocket logo for Moonshot, a company that manufactures key components for bitcoin mining. —Tony Romm, Washington Post, 27 July 2024

These covers mirrored the omnipresent typography used for the album: glitchy, intentionally pixelated lowercase black Arial text spelling out the album title, superimposed onto a puke green background. —Hazlitt, 17 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

superimpose

verb

su·​per·​im·​pose ˌsü-pə-rim-ˈpōz 

: to place or lay over or above something

superimposition

-ˌrim-pə-ˈzish-ən 

noun