layer
Americannoun
-
a thickness of some material laid on or spread over a surface.
a layer of soot on the windowsill; two layers of paint.
-
something lying over or under something else; a level or tier.
There can be multiple layers of metaphor in a single poem.
-
a bed; stratum.
alternating layers of basalt and sandstone.
-
a person or thing that lays (often used in combination): a bricklayer.
a carpet layer;
a bricklayer.
-
a hen kept for egg production.
-
one of several items of clothing worn one on top of the other.
-
Horticulture.
-
a shoot or twig that is induced to root while still attached to the living stock, as by bending and covering with soil.
-
a plant so propagated.
-
-
Ropemaking. a machine for laying rope or cable.
verb (used with object)
-
to make a layer of.
-
to form or arrange in layers.
-
to arrange or wear (clothing) in layers.
You can layer this vest over a blouse or sweater.
-
to cut (hair) in overlapping layers of different lengths.
My hairdresser insisted on layering my hair at my last visit—I rather like it this way.
-
Horticulture. to propagate by layering.
verb (used without object)
-
to separate into or form layers.
-
(of a garment) to permit of wearing in layers; be used in layering.
Frilly blouses don't layer well.
noun
-
a thickness of some homogeneous substance, such as a stratum or a coating on a surface
-
one of four or more levels of vegetation defined in ecological studies: the ground or moss layer, the field or herb layer, the shrub layer, and one or more tree layers
-
a laying hen
-
horticulture
-
a shoot or branch rooted during layering
-
a plant produced as a result of layering
-
verb
-
to form or make a layer of (something)
-
to take root or cause to take root by layering
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
layersimple
-
layerssimple
-
have layeredperfect
-
has layeredperfect
-
am layeringprogressive
-
are layeringprogressive
-
is layeringprogressive
-
have been layeringperfect progressive
-
has been layeringperfect progressive
Past
-
layeredsimple
-
had layeredperfect
-
was layeringprogressive
-
were layeringprogressive
-
had been layeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of layer
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English leyer, legger; see origin at lay 1, -er 1
Explanation
The noun layer describes a thin piece that's stacked on other thin pieces, like a layer of noodles in a lasagna dish. You can also apply a layer of paint to make your wall color more vivid. Layer can also be used figuratively to describe an abstract thickness or barrier. Celebrities are known to surround themselves with managers, agents, stylists, and friends — forming a layer between them and the prying public. Layer can also be a verb. You can layer your bed with blankets on a cold night, as a layer of ice forms on the sidewalks and streets outside.
Vocabulary lists containing layer
"Volcano!"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Mark of Athena
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The translucence of Irene’s topmost layer is gorgeously done; so, too, are her insides, which recall the tornado in “The Wizard of Oz” trapped in quivering gelatin.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
Nvidia’s newly announced Halos for Robotics safety stack sharpens the point: The company is building the software, compute and safety layer around humanoids, not trying to own the entire machine.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
Even when it traverses difficult terrain, though, the story emerges on the other side with another layer to add to its ongoing consideration of what it means to live free in America.
From Salon • Jul. 1, 2026
“The second is the component layer beneath them, the motors, reducers, bearings, sensors, and power content inside the machines themselves.”
From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026
Resting on top of this constantly changing layer, the plates creep over, under, and past each other at a rate so slow it would make a snail blush.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
