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Layer vs Overlayer - What's the difference?

layer | overlayer |

As nouns the difference between layer and overlayer

is that layer is a single thickness of some material covering a surface while overlayer is a layer of adatoms adsorbed onto a surface, as onto the surface of a single crystal.

As a verb layer

is to cut or divide (something) into layers.

layer

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
  • Wrap the loaf in two layers of aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.
    After the first coat of paint dried, he applied another layer .
  • # An item of clothing worn under or over another.
  • It's cold now but it will warm up this afternoon. Make sure you wear layers .
  • A (usually) horizontal deposit; a stratum.
  • I find seven-layer cake a bit too rich.
  • A person who lays things, such as tiles.
  • A mature female bird, insect, etc. that is able to lay eggs.
  • When dealing with an infestation of headlice, the first step is to eliminate the layers .
  • A hen kept to lay eggs.
  • A shoot of a plant, laid underground for growth.
  • Synonyms

    * (stratum) stratum

    Derived terms

    * boundary layer * ozone layer

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (ambitransitive) to cut or divide (something) into layers
  • (ambitransitive) to arrange (something) in layers.
  • Layer the ribbons on top of one another to make an attractive pattern.

    Anagrams

    * *

    overlayer

    English

    Noun

    (en noun) (wikipedia overlayer)
  • A layer of adatoms adsorbed onto a surface, as onto the surface of a single crystal.