verb

overlay

oh-vuh-LAY

verb

To lay or spread one thing over another.

"The designer overlaid the map with a grid of coordinates."

noun

A layer, image, or piece of information placed on top of something else.

"The app shows a translation overlay on top of the camera view."

"She added a text overlay to the video."

How to Use Overlay

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething (or the act of putting something) placed on top of something else, often to add information or a visual effect.

Common pairings

video overlay text overlay overlay a map

overlaid past tense, overlayed past tense, overlays plural, overlays singular

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The app shows a translation _____ on top of the camera view.

From Old English oferleċġan, built from over- + lay; German überlegen is a cognate.

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay