Overlay \O"ver*lay`\, n.
   1. A covering. --Sir W. Scott.
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   2. (Printing) A piece of paper pasted upon the tympan sheet
      to improve the impression by making it stronger at a
      particular place.
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   3. (Computers) A subroutine which occupies a portion of main
      memory which is occupied at some other time by another
      subroutine during execution of the same program. Overlays
      were used as an older technique to allow larger programs
      to be executed in restricted main memory space; the same
      effect is now accomplished by different techniques.
      [PJC]

	

	Overlay \O`ver*lay"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Overlaid; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Overlaying.]
   1. To lay, or spread, something over or across; hence, to
      cover; to overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
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            When any country is overlaid by the multitude which
            live upon it.                         --Sir W.
                                                  Raleigh.
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            As when a cloud his beams doth overlay. --Spenser.
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            Framed of cedar overlaid with gold.   --Milton.
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            And overlay
            With this portentous bridge the dark abyss.
                                                  --Milton.
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   2. Specifically: To cover (an object made of an inexpensive
      metal, glass, or other material) with a thin sheet of an
      expensive metal, especially with silver or gold.
      Distinguished from to plate, which is done by a chemical
      or electrical deposition process.
      [PJC]

   3. To smother with a close covering, or by lying upon.
      [1913 Webster]

            This woman's child died in the night; because she
            overlaid it.                          --1 Kings iii.
                                                  19.
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            A heap of ashes that o'erlays your fire. --Dryden.
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   4. (Printing) To put an overlay on.
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	Overlie \O`ver*lie"\, v. t. [imp. Overlay; p. p. Overlain;
   p. pr. & vb. n. Overlying.]
   To lie over or upon; specifically, to suffocate by lying
   upon; as, to overlie an infant. --Quain.
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         A woman by negligence overlieth her child in her
         sleeping.                                --Chaucer.
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	overlie
     v 1: lie upon; lie on top of; "the granite overlies the older
          rocks"
     2: kill by lying on; "The sow overlay her piglets" [syn: overlay]
     [also: overlying, overlay, overlain]

	

	overlay
     n : protective covering consisting, for example, of a layer of
         boards applied to the studs and joists of a building to
         strengthen it and serve as a foundation for a
         weatherproof exterior [syn: sheathing, overlayer]
     v 1: put something on top of something else; "cover the meat with
          a lot of gravy" [syn: cover]
     2: kill by lying on; "The sow overlay her piglets" [syn: overlie]
     [also: overlaid]

	

	overlay
     See overlie
     [also: overlaid]

	

	60 Moby Thesaurus words for "overlay":
   adorn, applique, apply to, blanket, block, canopy, cap, cloak,
   clothe, cloud, convolute, cope, cover, cover up, cowl, crown,
   curtain, decorate, eclipse, elaborate, embellish, embroider,
   enrich, festoon, film, flap, flourish, fly, gild, hood,
   imbrication, involve, lap, lay on, lay over, load with ornament,
   mantle, mask, muffle, obduce, obscure, occult, ornament, overcast,
   overcharge, overlap, overlapping, overlayer, overload, overspread,
   put on, screen, scum, shield, spread over, superimpose, superpose,
   trick out, varnish, veil