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Overlap vs Overlay - What's the difference?

overlap | overlay |

As verbs the difference between overlap and overlay

is that overlap is to extend over and partly cover something while overlay is to lay, or spread, something over or across; to cover.

As nouns the difference between overlap and overlay

is that overlap is something that overlaps or is overlapped while overlay is a piece of paper pasted upon the tympan sheet to improve the impression by making it stronger at a particular place.

overlap

Verb

(overlapp) (intransitive)
  • To extend over and partly cover something.
  • the mousemat overlapped the edge of the desk
  • To have an area, range, character or function in common.
  • The two maps overlapped at the east and west edges
  • * '>citation
  • Memento unfolds over 22 scenes—or, more accurately, 22 strands of time, the main strand (in color) moving backward in increments, and another strand (in black and white) going forward, though the two overlap profoundly.
  • (mathematics) Used of sets that have some elements in common.
  • The set (all men) overlaps the set (vegetarians)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that overlaps or is overlapped
  • (rugby) a situation in the game where an attacking line has more players in it than the defensive line coming to meet it. The attacking side may exploit the overlap'' by using their superior numbers to break the opposition's defensive line. If attackers outnumber defenders by more than one player this is often termed a ''two man overlap'' or ''three man overlap'', etc. If the attacking side fails to break through usually due to poor execution, they are said to ''waste an overlap .
  • overlay

    English

    Verb

  • To lay, or spread, something over or across; to cover.
  • * Spenser
  • as when a cloud his beams doth overlay
  • * Milton
  • framed of cedar overlaid with gold
  • To overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
  • when any country is overlaid by the multitude which live upon it
  • * Bible, 1 Kings iii. 19
  • This woman's child died in the night, because she overlaid it.
  • * Dryden
  • a heap of ashes that o'erlays your fire
  • *1993 , (Pat Barker), The Eye in the Door'', Penguin 2014 (''The Regeneration Trilogy ), p. 371:
  • *:Prostitutes, thieves, girls who ‘overlaid ’ their babies, abortionists who stuck their knitting needles into something vital – did they really need to be here?
  • (printing) To put an on.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (printing) A piece of paper pasted upon the tympan sheet to improve the impression by making it stronger at a particular place.
  • (betting) Odds which are set higher than expected or warranted. Favorable odds.
  • (horse racing) A horse going off at higher odds than it appears to warrant, based on its past performances.
  • A decal attached to a computer keyboard to relabel the keys.
  • * 1994 , Roger Frost, The IT in Secondary Science Book (page 56)
  • The keyboard overlay can be a memory jogger and a great help with spelling. In this way the keyboard makes word processing more accessible to younger as well as special needs children.

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms