layer

The word “layer” means a single thickness of material covering a surface, or one level in a stack of such materials. In plain terms, one level of something stacked or spread, or the act of stacking things that way.

“Layer” is pronounced LAIR (/ˈlɛə/ in IPA).

Here is “layer” used in a sentence: “She added a layer of frosting between each cake tier.”

Words with a similar meaning to “layer” include lay.

Depending on how it is used, “layer” can be a noun and a verb.

“Layer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Layer” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a single thickness of material covering a surface, or one level in a stack of such materials.

A layer is any single thickness of material, whether solid, soft, or stacked — like a layer of cake or a layer of clothing. A coat usually means one covering of something applied as a liquid, such as a coat of paint or varnish that dries onto a surface.

Layers are everywhere: the icing spread between sponges in a cake, a sheet of insulation in a wall, or the different bands of rock in a cliff. In clothing, a jumper worn over a shirt adds a layer of warmth. Each is one level within a stack.

Working in layers means building up a surface one thickness at a time rather than all at once. Painters add thin layers so each dries evenly, cooks stack layers of flavour, and dressing in layers lets you add or remove clothing as the temperature changes.