Other forms: overlays
An overlay is a layer placed on top of something else. A transparent overlay, a map overlay, apply the overlay.
It adds information without hiding what is underneath, which is what separates it from a covering: a map overlay shows the boundaries over the terrain. In computing an overlay is a layer of interface drawn above whatever is running.
1nounoverlayA layer placed on top of something else.
“The map comes with a clear plastic overlay showing where the old city walls stood.”
overlay is a layer.
Old English oferlecgan, over plus lay, meaning to place upon.
Proto-Germanic
*uberlagjaną
Proto-West Germanic
*obarlaggjan
Old English
oferleċġan
Middle English
overleyen
English, today
overlay
From Middle English overleyen, from Old English oferleċġan, from Proto-West Germanic obarlaggjan, from Proto-Germanic uberlagjaną, equivalent to over + lay. Cognate with stq uurläze, úurlääse, Dutch overleggen, German Low German overleggen, överleggen, German überlegen, Swedish överlägga, Norwegian overlegge. Compare overlie.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA