overlay
To lay, spread, or apply over or acrossTo lay, spread, or apply (something) over or across (something else); to overspread.
» His belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
carlosalberto · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
5 senses(transitive)To lay, spread, or apply (something) over or across (something else); to overspread.
Near-synonyms: cover, superimpose, superpose
She will now overlay the crust with fruit.
To overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
(transitive)To put an overlay on.
put something on top of something else
(transitive)To bet too much money on.
(archaic, transitive)To lie over (someone, especially a child) in order to smother it; to suffocate.
Examples
3 sentencesHis belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
He overlaid the walls on the inside with gold.
What was vital was overlaid and hidden by what was irrelevant.
Translations
2 languagesOrigin
From Middle English overleyen, from Old English oferleċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *obarFrom Middle English overleyen, from Old English oferleċġan, from Proto-West Germanic *obarlaggjan, from Proto-Germanic *uberlagjaną, equivalent to over- + lay. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurläze, úurlääse, Dutch overleggen, German Low German overleggen, överleggen, German überlegen, Swedish överlägga, Norwegian overlegge. Compare overlie.
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Forms
overlays, overlaying, overlaid, overlaidSynonyms
4 synonymsWord family
4 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle