From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtiertier /tɪə $ tɪr/ ●○○ noun [countable] 1 TBBone of several levels or layers that rise up one above the other The lower tier has 10,000 seats.in tiers Terraces of olive trees rose in tiers.two-tiered/three-tiered etc (=having two, three etc levels or layers) a three-tiered wedding cake2 POSITION/RANKone of several levels in an organization or systemtier of the most senior tier of managementthe first/second etc tier The second tier of the programme is in-house training. a two-tier system of government
Examples from the Corpus
tier• Mason occupied two spaces on a tier of seats normally reserved for the board of directors and important visitors.• Statues by the hundred sat around and above him, tier upon curving tier.• The strong economy has done little for workers at the lowest tier.• The legislation transformed it into a new central bank and introduced a new tier of commercial banks and other lending institutions.• It is the second tier of visual cortex that specializes.• I suppose I could have joined in except I was on the second tier of the other stand.• The second tier of the programme is in-house training.• We always sat in the top tier of seats.• The two tiers are not intended to exist in a hierarchical relationship to each other.in tiers• Wheelchair spaces are required in a hall, auditorium or a sports stadium, where seating is fixed or arranged in tiers.• The room, about the size of my apartment, was lined with fiberglass pallets arranged in tiers like bizarre bunk beds.• Lovely landscaped terraces rise in tiers above the swimming pool from where the views are quite superb.the first/second etc tier• Wycliffe looked up at the first tier of planks; the shot must have been fired from up there.• On average, the second tier outperformed the larger firms, with an average growth rate of 6%.• It is the second tier of visual cortex that specializes.• I suppose I could have joined in except I was on the second tier of the other stand.From Longman Business Dictionarytiertier /tɪətɪr/ noun [countable] one of several levels of quality, usually threeInvestors are going for the better value represented by middle-tier and lower-tier junk bonds (=bonds that have a high risk of not being repaid).Iberia will build its subsidiary into a second-tier airline offering discounted flights.three top-tier accounting firmsOrigin tier (1400-1500) Old French tire “order, rank”; → ATTIRE 