overlay 1
v. /oh'veuhr lay"/ ; n. /oh"veuhr lay'/ , v. , overlaid, overlaying , n.
v.t.
1. to lay or place (one thing) over or upon another.
2. to cover, overspread, or surmount with something.
3. to finish with a layer or applied decoration of something: wood richly overlaid with gold.
4. Print. to put an overlay upon.
n.
5. something laid over something else; covering.
6. a layer or decoration of something applied: an overlay of gold.
7. Print.
a. a shaped piece of paper, or a sheet of paper reinforced at the proper places by shaped pieces, put on the tympan of a press to increase or equalize the impression.
b. a method of preparing copy for multicolor printing, in which matter for each color is prepared on a transparent sheet that is placed over a key plate, usually the one to be printed in black.
c. the sheet or sheets so prepared.
8. a sheet of transparent paper placed over a photograph, a dummy, or other artwork for noting corrections, instructions, mechanical separations, etc.
9. Computers. software or data in external storage and brought into main storage for execution by replacing or augmenting software or data already there.
10. a transparent sheet giving special military information not ordinarily shown on maps, used by being placed over the map on which it is based.
11. a decorative piece of leather or other material stitched on a shoe.
12. Scot. a cravat.
[ 1250-1300; ME; see OVER-, LAY 1 ]
overlay 2
/oh'veuhr lay"/ , v.
pt. of overlie .