overlie
overlie — verb
- overliepresent simple I / you / we / they
- overlieshe / she / it
- overlaypast simple
- overlainpast participle
- overlying-ing form
1. to lie directly above another thing, often touching or covering it
to lie directly above another thing, often touching or covering it
A clean white cloth overlies the bread in the basket.
something overlies + object below
Fresh snow overlies the old tracks on the hill this morning.
layer overlies earlier marks
A glass panel overlies the map to keep rainwater off.
Wet leaves overlie the garden steps after the night wind.
- underlie
means to be below something rather than above it
文法句型
something overlie something
用法筆記
Usually used for one layer, cover, or surface resting directly over another. It is much rarer and more formal than everyday phrases such as 'lie on' or 'cover'.
常見錯誤
2. to accidentally suffocate a baby because your body presses down over the child d
to accidentally suffocate a baby because your body presses down over the child during sleep
The exhausted parent feared he might overlie the baby while asleep.
overlie + baby while asleep
Nurses warned new fathers not to overlie an infant on the sofa.
warn someone not to overlie a baby
The report said the child was overlain while sharing a bed.
Tamar moved the cot beside her bed to avoid overlying the baby.
文法句型
someone overlie a baby
a baby be overlain
用法筆記
Usually appears in formal discussion of infant sleep accidents. Distinguish it from sense 3 because this meaning is specifically about a baby.
常見錯誤
3. to make a person or animal die after a body or heavy thing comes down over them
to make a person or animal die after a body or heavy thing comes down over them
The newspaper said the shepherd was overlain by his injured horse.
passive: someone was overlain
The falling gate could overlie a trapped calf in seconds.
heavy object overlie + animal
Workers feared the rolling log would overlie the dog near the ditch.
A collapsing wall could overlie anyone sleeping beside the shed.
文法句型
something overlie a person or animal
someone be overlain by something
用法筆記
Broader than sense 2 because the victim can be an adult or an animal. It remains very rare and often appears in reports, warnings, or passive wording.