onlap

noun

1

: progressive submergence of land by an advancing sea

2

: the arrangement of strata deposited on the floor of an advancing sea during its advance compare offlap, overlap

Word History

Etymology

on + lap, noun

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!