Overlayers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Those or things that cover or lie atop another surface or layer, adding an additional stratum or coating for protection, decoration, or enhancement
2. Entities or materials applied over existing layers to create a new surface, providing extra thickness, texture, or visual effect
3. Individuals or substances that place one layer above another, resulting in a composite layering effect used for structural, aesthetic, or functional purposes

Etymology: "Overlayers" is the plural of "overlayer," a noun formed from the prefix "over-" and "layer." The base word "layer" goes back to Old English "lieger," meaning a bed or something laid down, and "over-" is the familiar Old English prefix meaning "above" or "across." Joined together, the pieces describe something laid on top of something else. The plural form simply refers to several such coverings or strata at once, as in a surface built up from multiple coats. Because the word is a transparent combination of two common English elements, its meaning follows directly from its parts without any notable shift in sense.

Synonyms: coverers, coaters