I. ˈlā-ər, ˈler noun
Date: 13th century
1. : one that lays (as a worker who lays brick or a hen that lays eggs)
2.
a. : one thickness, course, or fold laid or lying over or under another
b. : stratum
c. : horizon 2
3.
a. : a branch or shoot of a plant that roots while still attached to the parent plant
b. : a plant developed by layering
• lay·ered ˈlā-ərd, ˈlerd adjective
II. verb
Date: 1832
transitive verb
1. : to propagate (a plant) by means of layers
2.
a. : to place as a layer
b. : to place a layer on top of
pancakes layer ed with butter and syrup
c. : to form or arrange in layers
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to separate into layers
b. : to form out of superimposed layers
2. of a plant : to form roots where a stem comes in contact with the ground