A Layer Is Also a Hen That Lays
A layer is a sheet of material covering a surface. In poultry farming it names a hen kept for eggs rather than meat.
A layer is a sheet or thickness of material lying over a surface. In poultry it means something else entirely: a *layer* is a hen bred to produce eggs, as opposed to a *broiler* raised for meat. The two are different commercial breeds with different bodies, which is why laying hens are lean and broilers grow fast and heavy. In gardening, *layering* propagates a plant by bending a stem to the ground until it roots.
- A sheet of material. *A layer of paint.*
- An egg-laying hen. *A flock of layers.*
- To arrange in layers. *Layer the ingredients.*
- Broiler — a meat bird. *A broiler chicken.*
- Layering — a propagation method. *Propagate by layering.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | layer | A thin layer. |
| Plural | layers | Three layers. |
| Verb | layer | Layer them. |
| Noun | layering | Layering. |
| Verb | lay | Lay it down. |
- Add another layer of insulation.Material.
- The layers produce around 300 eggs a year.Farming.
- Layering roots the stem before cutting it.Gardening.
Lay or lie?
- Lay takes an object — lay the book down
- Lie does not — lie down on the bed
- Past of lay — laid
- Past of lie — lay, which causes most of the confusion
- Layer comes from lay, the one that takes an object
From *lay*, Old English *lecgan*, to place. The sense of a thickness of material dates from the 1600s.
What is a layer in poultry farming?
A hen bred to produce eggs, as opposed to a broiler raised for meat. They are different commercial breeds.
What is layering in gardening?
Bending a stem down and covering part of it with soil so it roots while still attached to the parent plant.