layer

1 of 2

noun

lay·​er ˈlā-ər  ˈler 

1

: one that lays something (such as a worker who lays brick or a hen that lays eggs)

2

a

: one thickness, course, or fold laid or lying over or under another

b

: stratum

c

: horizon sense 2

3

a

: a branch or shoot of a plant that roots while still attached to the parent plant

b

: a plant developed by layering

layered

ˈlā-ərd  ˈlerd 

adjective

layer

2 of 2

verb

layered; layering; layers

transitive verb

1

: to propagate (a plant) by means of layers

2

a

: to place as a layer

b

: to place a layer on top of

pancakes layered with butter and syrup

c

: to form or arrange in layers

intransitive verb

1

a

: to separate into layers

b

: to form out of superimposed layers

2

of a plant : to form roots where a stem comes in contact with the ground

Examples of layer in a Sentence

Noun

Everything was covered by a thin layer of sand.

The top layer of the rug is badly worn but the bottom layer is still OK.

The cake has three layers.

She glued together several layers of paper.

He was wearing several layers of clothing.

rocks that formed in layers from flows of lava

Verb

We layered the fruit with whipped cream and served it with cookies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Blade Material 3 layers of Japanese steel: an AUS10 core and SUS1A-1 outer layers Made in China Blade length 8 inches Total length 12.8 inches Edge 11.5 deg. —Molly Higgins, Wired News, 2 May 2025

Some locate it in high-level activity like dynamic coordination between certain regions of the brain; others, like me, locate it at the smallest layer of reality—in the quantum fabric of spacetime itself. —Susan Schneider, Scientific American, 1 May 2025

Verb

Reese Witherspoon has been reaching for airy eyelet and lace blouses, while Gwyneth Paltrow has been layering up with oversized button-down shirts. —Nicol Natale, People.com, 2 May 2025

Where once the rich and famous only appeared in the latest couture designs, today’s stars are increasingly embracing archival looks, and opting for garments layered with history. —Marianna Cerini, CNN Money, 2 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing layer

• atomic layer deposition
• boundary layer
• D layer
• E layer
• F layer
• germ layer
• Heaviside layer
• layer cake
• Malpighian layer
• ozone layer
• palisade layer
• sporadic E layer
• thin-layer chromatography

Rhymes for layer

• gayer
• grayer
• greyer
• mayor
• nayar
• payer
• payor
• peyer
• player
• preyer
• sayer
• slayer

Kids Definition

layer

1 of 2 noun

lay·​er ˈlā-ər 

ˈle(-ə)r

1

: one that lays

their hens were poor layers

2

: one thickness or fold over or under another

a layer or rock

layered

ˈlā-ərd 

ˈle(-ə)rd

adjective

layer

2 of 2 verb

1

: to separate into layers

2

: to form by adding layers

Medical Definition

layer

noun

lay·​er ˈlā-ər, ˈle(-ə)r 

1

: one thickness, course, or fold laid or lying over or under another

2

: stratum sense 1

the outer layers of the skin

layer verb