overlying

Everyday

1. Lying on top of something else; covering it. tree →
2. (formal) Being more noticeable or on the surface, over a deeper thing. tree →

In the lessons

A science and geography word: rock layers lie one on another, and the overlying layer is usually younger than the one below it. In medicine, the overlying skin is the skin on top of a lump or bone.

Examples

• The overlying rock is younger than the rock beneath it. tree →
• The overlying layer of soil was full of worms. tree →
• Snow formed an overlying blanket on the ice. tree →
• The doctor looked at the overlying skin. tree →
• Fossils in the overlying layers are more recent. tree →
• The overlying clay keeps the water trapped underground. tree →

Note

From «overlie» (overlie, overlies, overlay, overlain, overlying) — a rare verb. Trap: «overlay» is both the past of overlie and a different verb meaning to cover with a layer. Mostly used as an adjective before a noun.