to pile on top of one another / layer; stratum / floor (of a building); story / (math.) sheaf / classifier for layers
层
=
云
+
尸
:
The King of Chu (c) is enjoying a lasagna (千层面) in the engine's kitchen ((e)ng2) when suddenly a ghost (尸) surrounded by a dark cloud (云) appears and starts to haunt him. Terrified, the King of Chu drops the lasagna and runs away. The ghost reached its goal and starts devouring the lasagna himself.
person representing the dead (during burial ceremonies) / to put a corpse on display (after execution) / variant of 屍|尸[shi1] / corpse
Sherlock Holmes (sh) is investigating a crime scene with a corpse (尸) in front of the space station (Ø1). The victim's ghost (尸) is trying to give him hints from the afterlife about their killer.
云
=
二
+
厶
:
Yu the Great (yu) had a little accident in the encampment's kitchen ((e)n2). She blew up her capacitor (二), and now there's smoke (云) everywhere. To be able to breathe, she puts on her fake nose (厶).
Characters with 层 as component
层
is not used as a component in another character.