i Register
In some senses, overlay is marked as archaic. Watch for register when choosing this word.
verb
To lay, spread, or apply (something) over or across (something else); to overspread.
Near-synonyms: cover, superimpose, superpose
She will now overlay the crust with fruit.
To overwhelm; to press excessively upon.
when any country is overlaid by the multitude which live upon it
To lie over (someone, especially a child) in order to smother it; to suffocate.
And this womans childe died in the night: because she ouerlaid it.
a heap of ashes that o'erlays your fire
To put an overlay on.
To bet too much money on.
[…] he has 'overlaid' his book, and has not succeeded in 'getting round' by bets against the other horses.
noun
An image to be overlaid on another; a superimposition or diapositive.
A piece of paper pasted upon the tympan sheet to improve the impression by making it stronger at a particular place.
Odds which are set higher than expected or warranted. Favorable odds.
A horse going off at higher odds than it appears to warrant, based on its past performances.
A decal attached to a computer keyboard to relabel the keys.
The keyboard overlay can be a memory jogger and a great help with spelling. In this way the keyboard makes word processing more accessible to younger as well as special needs children.