# layer

/ˈɫeɪɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/layer
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a thickness of material

noun · CEFR B1

a single thickness of something that covers a surface or sits between other things.

For teachers: a single thickness of a substance or material covering a surface or forming one of several levels in a stack.

- The cake had a thick layer of chocolate cream in the middle.
- Archaeologists carefully removed the top layer of sediment to reveal the well-preserved stone foundations of the Roman villa.

### 2. a level in a system

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic · Technical

one part or level of a complex system or idea.

For teachers: a distinct level within a hierarchical structure, such as a software architecture or a social system.

- The security system has several layers to protect your personal data.
- In the OSI model, the transport layer is responsible for end-to-end communication and error recovery between hosts.

### 3. an egg-laying animal

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a bird or insect that is kept for the eggs it produces.

For teachers: a mature female animal, particularly a domestic fowl, kept specifically for egg production.

- The farmer kept a hundred layers to supply the local market with fresh eggs.
- The productivity of the layers began to decline as the winter days grew shorter and the temperature in the coop dropped.

### 4. to arrange in levels

verb · CEFR B1

to put one thing on top of another in levels.

For teachers: to arrange or form something in distinct thicknesses or tiers.

- You should layer the vegetables in the dish before adding the sauce.
- The gardener recommended layering the compost with straw to ensure proper aeration during the decomposition process.

## Examples

- The cake has a thick layer of chocolate cream.
- To stay warm while hiking, you should wear a base layer that wicks away moisture.
- The geologist explained that each distinct layer of sediment represents a different era in the planet's environmental history, preserved through millions of years of pressure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.