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layer

 - 10 dictionary results

lay⋅er

[ley-er]
–noun
1. a thickness of some material laid on or spread over a surface: a layer of soot on the window sill; two layers of paint.
2. bed; stratum: alternating layers of basalt and sandstone.
3. a person or thing that lays: a carpet layer.
4. a hen kept for egg production.
5. one of several items of clothing worn one on top of the other.
6. Horticulture.
a. a shoot or twig that is induced to root while still attached to the living stock, as by bending and covering with soil.
b. a plant so propagated.
7. Ropemaking. a machine for laying rope or cable.
–verb (used with object)
8. to make a layer of.
9. to form or arrange in layers.
10. to arrange or wear (clothing) in layers: You can layer this vest over a blouse or sweater.
11. Horticulture. to propagate by layering.
–verb (used without object)
12. to separate into or form layers.
13. (of a garment) to permit of wearing in layers; be used in layering: Frilly blouses don't layer well.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME leyer, legger. See lay 1 , -er 1


lay⋅er⋅a⋅ble, adjective

lay

3[ley]
–adjective
1. belonging to, pertaining to, or performed by the people or laity, as distinguished from the clergy: a lay sermon.
2. not belonging to, connected with, or proceeding from a profession, esp. the law or medicine.

Origin:
1300–50; ME < MF lai < ML lāicus laic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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lay·er   (lā'ər)   
n.  
    1. One that lays: a tile layer.

    2. A hen kept for laying eggs.

    3. A single thickness of a material covering a surface or forming an overlying part or segment: a layer of dust on the windowsill; a cake with four layers.

    4. A usually horizontal deposit or expanse; a stratum: layers of sedimentary rock; a layer of warm air.

    5. A depth or level: a poem with several layers of meaning.

    1. A single thickness of a material covering a surface or forming an overlying part or segment: a layer of dust on the windowsill; a cake with four layers.

    2. A usually horizontal deposit or expanse; a stratum: layers of sedimentary rock; a layer of warm air.

    3. A depth or level: a poem with several layers of meaning.

  1. Botany A stem that is covered with soil for rooting while still part of the living plant.

  2. An item of clothing worn over or under another.

v.   lay·ered, lay·er·ing, lay·ers

v.   tr.
  1. To divide or form into layers: layered gravel and charcoal to make a filter.

  2. To cut (hair) into different, usually overlapping lengths.

  3. Botany To propagate (a plant) by means of a layer.

  4. To wear (clothing) in layers.

v.   intr.
  1. To form or come apart as layers.

  2. Botany To take root as a result of layering.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
lay (sth)

  1. tv.
    to spend some amount of money. : I can't lay that kind of money out every day!
  2. tv.
    to explain a plan of action or a sequence of events. : Let me lay it out for you.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

lay  (v.)
O.E. lecgan "to place on the ground (or other surface)," also "put down (often by striking)," from P.Gmc. *lagjanan (cf. O.S. leggian, O.N. leggja, O.Fris. ledza, M.Du. legghan, Du. leggen, O.H.G. lecken, Ger. legen, Goth. lagjan "to lay, put, place"), causative of lie (v.2). Meaning "way in which something is laid" (lay of the land) first recorded 1819. Meaning "have sex with" first recorded 1934, in U.S. slang, from sense of "deposit" (which was in O.E., as in lay an egg, lay a bet, etc.), perhaps reinforced by to lie with, a frequent phrase in the Bible. The noun meaning "woman available for sexual intercourse" is attested from 1930, but there are suggestions of it in stage puns from as far back as 1767. Lay off "dismiss" (an employee) is from 1868; meaning "stop disturbing" is from 1908. To lay for (someone) "await a chance at revenge" is from 1494; lay low "stay inconspicuous" is from 1839. To lay (someone) low preserves the secondary O.E. sense. Layabout "habitual loafer" is attested from 1932. Layup, the basketball shot, is attested from 1948.

layer 
1382, "one who or that lays" (especially stones, "a mason"), from lay (v.). Passive sense of "that which is laid" first recorded 1615, but since earliest Eng. use was in cookery, this is perhaps from Fr. liue "binding," used of a thickened sauce.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: lay
past of LIE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: lay·er
Pronunciation: 'lA-&r, 'le(-&)r
Function: noun
1 : one thickness, course, or fold laid or lying over or underanother
2 : STRATUM 1 layers of the skin> —layer verb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

layer lay·er (lā'ər)
n.
A single thickness of a material covering a surface or forming an overlying part or segment. v. lay·ered, lay·er·ing, lay·ers
To divide or form into layers.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

layer
protocol layer

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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