Overlie (Verb)

Meaning ¹

Kill by lying on; "The sow overlay her piglets".

Classification

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.

Examples

• The mother hen will overlie her chicks if they get too hot and try to escape from under her wings.
• The large dog accidentally overlay his tiny puppy companion.
• The sow's accidental weight crushed her newborn piglets, overlaying them in the process.
• In her deep sleep, the large cat overlay her kittens while they were nursing.
• A large fallen sow was thought to have overlay her young by rolling over while sleeping soundly.

Synonyms

• Overlay

Meaning ²

Lie upon; lie on top of; "the granite overlies the older rocks".

Classification

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.

Examples

• A layer of leaves overlies the small, flowering plants, insulating them from cold temperatures.
• The volcanic ash overlies the fossil-bearing strata, providing a crucial clue about the age of the rock.
• Fragile ecosystems overlie ancient land forms in this unique landscape.
• Silt and sand overlies the dense layer of clay, making it less suitable for gardening.
• A thin film of oil overlies the surface of the polluted lake.