Lamination is the process of bonding thin layers of material together to make something stronger, more durable, or protected. When you laminate a paper document, you seal it between two sheets of clear plastic that keep it from getting wet, torn, or faded. Libraries laminate bookmarks and library cards so they last longer. Teachers laminate classroom posters and reference charts so students can use them year after year without wearing them out.

Think of plywood: it's made by laminating thin sheets of wood together with the grain running in different directions, which makes it much stronger than a single piece of wood the same thickness. Many things you use are laminated, even if you don't realize it: your student ID card, restaurant menus, windshields (which sandwich a layer of plastic between two layers of glass), and some types of flooring.

When something is described as laminated, it means those protective or strengthening layers have been permanently bonded to it. The process turns fragile materials into something tough enough for daily use.