Layer
/ˈleɪər/
Definitions
2 meaningsA sheet, quantity, or thickness of something covering a surface or body.
/ˈleɪər/
A sheet or thickness of a material covering a surface.
The painter applied a new layer of paint to the wall.
💡 Simply: Think of a sandwich with lots of ingredients – each slice of bread or piece of cheese is a layer. It's just one thing on top of another!
👶 For kids: Like when you put on a shirt, then a sweater, then a coat! Each shirt, sweater, and coat is a layer!
More Examples
The cake was made with three layers of sponge cake.
The atmospheric layer protects the Earth from harmful radiation.
How It's Used
"The foundation was built with multiple layers of concrete."
"The cake had several layers of frosting."
To arrange or deposit (a substance) in or as if in layers.
/ˈleɪər/
To arrange something in a layer or layers.
She layered the cream cheese on the bagel.
💡 Simply: Putting things on top of each other, like when you put toppings on your pizza. You can layer cheese, then pepperoni, then mushrooms!
👶 For kids: Like when you put a blanket, then a sheet, then another blanket on your bed. You're layering them!
More Examples
The artist layered different colors to create the painting.
Layering clothes is a good way to stay warm in winter.
How It's Used
"She layered a scarf over her coat for extra warmth."
"The gardener layered compost onto the soil."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
onion layers
Refers to the idea that a person or situation has hidden depths or complexities that must be revealed or understood gradually, one level at a time. It's a metaphor implying that things aren't always what they seem on the surface.
"The investigation into the company's finances revealed onion layers of deceit."
From Middle English laye, from Old English leger 'bed, layer, stratum', from Proto-Germanic *lagrą 'place to lie'.
The word 'layer' has been used to describe strata or coverings since the Middle Ages, evolving from its original sense of a 'place to lie'.
Memory tip
Imagine an onion. Each ring is a layer, adding up to the whole.
Word Origin
"place to lie, bed, stratum"