layernoun [ C ]
uk/ˈleɪ.ər/us/ˈleɪ.ɚ/layer noun [ C ] (MATERIAL)
B2 a level of material, such as a type of rock or gas, that is different from the material above or below it, or a thin sheet of a substance:
the ozone layer
A thick layer of clay lies over the sandstone.
There was a thin layer of oil on the surface of the water.
We stripped several layers of paint off the door.
More examples
- Cover the meat with a layer of cheese.
- Women have a layer of subcutaneous fat that provides them with better insulation than men.
- The eruption had covered the town with a fine layer of ash.
- A thick layer of dust had accumulated in the room.
- If the first layer isn't dry before you add the next one, the colours will run into each other .
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Coverings and layers
- a blanket of sth idiom
- blanket
- casing
- cladding
- coating
- fur
- gilt
- lime
- lined
- lining
- mantle
- mat
- membrane
- paintwork
- rendering
- slick
- topcoat
- undercoat
- veneer
- wrap
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layer noun [ C ] (PEOPLE)
the group of people at a particular level in an organization:
We've cut the number of management layers from five to three.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Bosses & managers
- administration
- boss
- captain of industry
- CEO
- chief executive
- chief executive officer
- founder
- gangmaster
- general
- Goliath
- governance
- governor
- magnate
- manageress
- managing director
- middle management
- overseer
- president
- top brass
- vice president
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layerverb [ T ]
uk/ˈleɪ.ər/us/ˈleɪ.ɚ/to arrange something in layers:
Layer the pasta with slices of tomato.
potatoes layered with onions
to cut hair so that some top parts of the hair are shorter than the hair underneath, to give it a particular style or shape:
Can you layer it a little at the front, please?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Covering and adding layers
- asphalt
- bestrew
- binder
- blanket
- blindfold
- carpet
- coat
- fall over sth/sb
- film
- film over
- fur
- gild
- gum sth up
- inlay
- pad
- proof
- resurface
- seal
- swathe
- whitewash
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layered
adjective uk/ˈleɪ.əd/us/ˈleɪ.ɚd/
Her hair is long and fluffily layered.