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Glite Dictionary
overlying

overlying

1 5.3
A layer that lies on top of another and covers it
  • adjective
  • /ˈoʊvərˌlaɪɪŋ/
translation icon : superpuesto
  • The mass, which had begun to develop one year earlier, was minimally mobile, and the overlying skin was not ulcerated.
  • overlying skin
  • overlying epidermis
  • overlying material

I follow the shape of my lip line because I have, I think I have pretty OK lips and I don't like that overlying look.

Examples

  • A faint, bluish discoloration was noted through the overlying skin.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Now the outer hair cells are embedded in a membrane that is overlying the inner hair cell and they are attached.

  • The visiting students were given a map of the university campus with an overlying transparent map of Russia.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Both the overlying fascial layer and skin are expanded.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Close inspection of the nose revealed that the overlying skin was edematous and violaceous.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The overlying skin may exhibit a faint bluish-red discoloration on examination.

    Academic text (1999)

  • The overlying skin may be exquisitely tender, edematous, and erythematous.

    Academic text (2010)

  • As the valley subsided, sediments from the overlying plateau were eroded and deposited in the basin.

    Blog text (23)

  • If you were to look inside the Earth, you'd find that it consists of layers: a central core a thick overlying mantle and a thin outer crust.

    Apartment Zero (1989)

  • The archaeologists carefully removed the overlying soil to uncover the ancient ruins below.

Synonyms

superimposed
vsoverlying
6.0

Placed on top of something so both are visible

lies over another object mainly covering it rather than showing both

Antonyms

underlying
16 4.0

Under another thing, often below the surface

exposed
1.8

Not covered by clothes and showing skin

How Covered

covering
8 1.5
overlying
1 5.3
overlapping
5 3.5
touching
2.5

Surface Forms

overlying positive

Morphology

overlying = overlie (transparent) = over + lie + ing

The verb 'overlie' (over + lie) plus the participial suffix '-ing' yields 'overlying', a directly compositional meaning 'lying over'.

Etymology

Overlying comes from the parts over- meaning 'above' and lie meaning 'to rest', so something overlying is 'resting above' another thing and therefore covers or sits on top of it.