Overlaying vs. Overlying — What's the Difference?

Overlaying or overlying is the act of accidentally smothering a child to death by rolling over them in sleep. Alleged instances of overlaying were perceived to be one common way of covering up infanticide in Victorian England.

To lie over or on.

To lay or spread over or on.

To suffocate (a baby, for example) by accidentally lying on top of it.

To cover the surface of with a decorative layer or design

Lying over or upon something else

To embellish superficially

Lying over or upon something; as, overlying rocks.

(Printing) To put an overlay on.

Placed on or over something else;

To create (a new area code) having the same boundaries as another

Past tense of overlie.

Something that is laid over or covers something else.

A layer of decoration, such as gold leaf or wood veneer, applied to a surface.

(Printing) A piece of paper used on a press tympan to vary the pressure that produces light and dark tones.

A transparent sheet containing graphic matter, such as labels or colored areas, placed on illustrative matter to be incorporated into it.

An area code whose boundaries are the same as another area code.

Present participle of overlay

Overlaid ornamentation

A superficial covering; a coating.