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overlie

[ oh-ver-lahy ]

/ ˌoʊ vərˈlaɪ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR overlie ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), o·ver·lay, o·ver·lain, o·ver·ly·ing.

to lie over or upon, as a covering or stratum.

to smother (an infant) by lying upon it, as in sleep.

Origin of overlie

First recorded in 1125–75, overlie is from the Middle English word overlien, overliggen. See over-, lie²

Words nearby overlie

overlea, overleaf, overleap, overlearn, overleverage, overlie, overline, overlive, overload, overlong, overlook

Example sentences from the Web for overlie

The pineal process grows forwards so as to overlie the parapineal process.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 |Various
Also a pair of elements which overlie the position of the external occipital joint.

A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 1 (of 2) |David Starr Jordan
But I reckoned without those superficial beach jealousies which overlie the essential solidarity of the fishermen.

A Poor Man's House |Stephen Sydney Reynolds
The nodules of clay-ironstone in the strata that overlie the limestone were mined and smelted down to 1750.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 |Various

The feathers which overlie the whole body and bear the color pattern are called contour-feathers.

Elementary Zoology, Second Edition |Vernon L. Kellogg

British Dictionary definitions for overlie

overlie

/ (ˌəʊvəˈlaɪ) /

verb -lies, -lying, -lay or -lain (tr)

to lie or rest upon Compare overlay

to kill (a baby or newborn animal) by lying upon it