layar

Layar is a word in Indonesian and Malay with several related meanings. The two principal senses are a surface on which images are displayed, such as a computer, television, or phone screen; and the sail of a sailing vessel. The term is also used metaphorically to refer to the cinema or the film industry, as in the phrase layar perak, meaning the silver screen.

In nautical usage, layar refers to sails on a ship or boat. The sails are spoken of collectively as layar, and common verbs describe actions such as menaikkan layar (to hoist or raise the sails), menurunkan layar (to lower the sails), or menggulung layar (to furl or roll up the sails). The term emphasizes the fabric and surface that catch the wind.

In modern technology and media, layar forms many compound terms. Layar sentuh denotes a touchscreen; layar monitor or layar komputer refers to a computer monitor screen; layar TV refers to a television screen. The expression layar perak historically described the cinema screen and remains a cultural reference to film and projection in some contexts.

The word is widely used across Indonesian and Malay-speaking communities and appears in everyday language as well as technical terminology. Its dual meanings reflect both traditional nautical imagery and contemporary digital media, illustrating how a single word can bridge maritime and technological domains.