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o·ver·flow² /'əʊvəfləʊ||-vər-/ n 1 something that overflows: The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe. 2 a pipe or passage for carrying away water that is more than is needed 3 an act of overflowing
o·ver·fly /ˌəʊvə'flaɪ||-vər-/ v -flew /'fluː/, -flown /'fləʊn/ [T] (of a pilot or aircraft) to fly over (a place), especially in a group on a ceremonial occasion
o·ver·ground /'əʊvəgraʊnd||-vər-/ adj [A] used to describe a train system that runs on the surface of the ground rather than below it: an overground railway → opposite UNDERGROUND
o·ver·grown /ˌəʊvə'grəʊn||-vər-/ adj 1 [(with)] covered especially with plants growing uncontrolled: a garden overgrown with weeds 2 [A] derog grown too large: He's just like an overgrown schoolboy.
o·ver·hand /'əʊvəhænd||-vər-/ adj, adv OVERARM
o·ver·hang¹ /ˌəʊvə'hæŋ||-vər-/ v -hung /'hʌŋ/ [I;T] to hang over (something) or stick out over (something): The rock overhung the path. | overhanging cliffs
o·ver·hang² /'əʊvəhæŋ||-vər-/ n [C usually sing.] 1 a rock, roof etc that overhangs 2 the amount by which something overhangs
o·ver·haul¹ /ˌəʊvə'hɔːl||-vər-/ v [T] 1 to examine thoroughly and perhaps repair if necessary: to overhaul a car 2 to come up to from behind and pass; OVERTAKE
o·ver·haul² /'əʊvəhɔːl||-vər-/ n a thorough examination and repair if necessary: I gave the van a complete overhaul.
o·ver·head /ˌəʊvə'hed||-vər-/ adj, adv above one's head: electricity carried by overhead wires (≠not underground) | A plane flew overhead. → compare over someone's head (HEAD¹)
overhead pro'jector n a lamp which makes images on a flat transparent surface larger and throws them, by means of a mirror, onto a white wall or SCREEN
o·ver·heads /'əʊvəhedz||-vər-/ [P] BrE || overhead [U] AmE— n money spent regularly (e.g. on insurance or heating) to keep a business running: Their office is in central London, so their overheads are very high. → compare PRIME COST
o·ver·hear /ˌəʊvə'hɪər||-vər-/ v -heard /'hɜːd||'hɜːrd/ [T] to hear (what others are saying) without their knowledge and by accident: I overheard some cruel remarks about my husband. | [+obj+/v-ing] I overheard them say/saying they were dissatisfied. → compare EAVESDROP
o·ver·heat·ed /ˌəʊvə'hiːtɪd||-vər-/ adj 1 at too high a temperature 2 (of e.g. economic conditions) showing too much activity to be healthy
o·ver·hung /ˌəʊvə'hʌŋ||-vər-/ past tense & participle of OVERHANG
o·ver·in·dulge /ˌəʊvərn'dʌldʒ/ v [I{in};T] to let (oneself or another person) have too much of what is wanted: to overindulge in chocolates/television (=to eat too many/watch too much) | She overindulges her children. —indulgence n [U] suffering from last night's overindulgence
o·ver·joyed /ˌəʊvə'dʒɔd||-vər-/ adj [F] extremely pleased; full of joy: [+to-v/that] We were overjoyed (to hear) that they were safe.
o·ver·kill /'əʊvəkɪl||-vər-/ n [U] something that goes beyond the desirable or safe limits: a propaganda overkill that stops people from believing it
o·ver·la·den /ˌəʊvə'leɪdn||-vər-/ past participle of OVERLOAD
o·ver·laid /ˌəʊvə'leɪd||-vər-/ past tense & participle of OVERLAY
o·ver·land /ˌəʊvə'lænd||-vər-/ adj, adv across land, not by sea or air: an overland route | going overland to China
o·ver·lap¹ /ˌəʊvə'læp||-vər-/ v -pp- [I;T] to cover (something) partly and go beyond it: Roofs are often made with overlapping tiles. | (fig.) Economics and politics are best studied together as the two subjects overlap.
overlap² /'əʊvəlæp||-vər-/ n [C;U] the amount by which two or more things overlap each other
o·ver·lay¹ /ˌəʊvə'leɪ||-vər-/ v -laid /'leɪd/ [T(with) usually pass.] to cover, usually thinly: wood overlaid with silver
o·ver·lay² /'əʊvəleɪ||-vər-/ n something laid over something else: (fig.) sad stories with an overlay of humour
o·ver·leaf /ˌəʊvə'liːf||'əʊvərliːf/ adv on the other side of the page
o·ver·lie /ˌəʊvə'laɪ||-vər-/ v -lay /'leɪ/, -lain /'leɪn/ [T] tech 1 to lie over: The rock overlies the coal. 2 to cause the death of (a baby or young animal) by lying on it
o·ver·load /ˌəʊvə'ləʊd||-vər-/ v -loaded, -loaded or -laden /'leɪdn/ [T(with)] 1 to load too heavily 2 to put too much electricity through: Don't overload the electrical system by using too many machines. —overload /'əʊvələʊd||-vər-/ n
o·ver·long /ˌəʊvə'lɒŋ||-vər'lɔːŋ/ adj, adv too long, especially in time: The performance was overlong.
o·ver·look /ˌəʊvə'lʊk||-vər-/ v [T] 1 to have or give a view of from above: Our room/We overlooked the sea. | We're overlooked here. (=the neighbours can see into our house) 2 not to notice; miss: These little details are easily overlooked. 3 to pretend not to see; forgive: I'll overlook your mistake this time.
o·ver·lord /'əʊvəlːd||'əʊvərlɔrd/ n (in former times) a lord who ruled over other lords; highest ruler
o·ver·ly /'əʊvəli||-vər-/ adv [usually in negatives] too; very much: I'm not overly interested.
o·ver·manned /ˌəʊvə'mænd||-vər-/ adj having more workers than are needed for a job etc; OVERSTAFFED → opposite UNDERMANNED —manning n [U]
o·ver·much /ˌəʊvə'mʌtʃ||-vər-/ adv, determiner, pron 1 fml too much: overmuch work 2 [usually in negatives] very much: He doesn't like me overmuch.
o·ver·night /ˌəʊvə'naɪt||-vər-/ adj, adv 1 for or during the night: an overnight journey | an overnight bag | to stay overnight 2 sudden(ly): The actor became famous overnight. | an overnight success
over-op'ti·mis·tic adj foolishly or unreasonably OPTIMISTIC, expecting that things will be better than is actually possible or likely: His estimate that they could do the job twice as quickly as the previous firm did, seems rather over-optimistic. | Maybe you will get paid as quickly as you think, but don't be over-optimistic.
o·ver·pass /'əʊvəpɑːs||'əʊvərpæs/ n AmE for FLYOVER
o·ver·pay /ˌəʊvə'peɪ||-vər-/ v -paid /'peɪd/ [T] to pay (someone) too much → opposite UNDERPAY
o·ver·play /ˌəʊvə'pleɪ||-vər-/ v [T] 1 to make (something) appear more important than it really is → opposite UNDERPLAY 2 overlay one's hand to promise or try to do more than one can really do
o·ver·pop·u·lat·ed /ˌəʊvə'pɒpjʊleɪtɪd||əʊvər'pɑːp-/ adj (of a city etc) having too many people —ion /ˌəʊvəpɒpju'leɪʃn||ˌəʊvərpɑː-/ n [U]
o·ver·pow·er /ˌəʊvə'paʊər||-vər-/ v [T] 1 to defeat (someone) by greater power 2 (of feelings) to make helpless; OVERCOME
o·ver·pow·er·ing /ˌəʊvə'paʊərɪŋ||-vər-/ adj 1 very strong; INTENSE: an overpowering desire/smell 2 (of a person) having a character that is too forceful; OVERBEARING —ly adv
o·ver·priced /ˌəʊvə'praɪst||-vər-/ adj more expensive than it should be
o·ver·proof /ˌəʊvə'pruːf||-vər-/ adj containing more alcohol than PROOF SPIRIT does: [after n] 10 degrees overproof
o·ver·ran /ˌəʊvə'ræn/ past tense of OVERRUN
o·ver·rate /ˌəʊvə'reɪt/ v [T] to put too high a value on (quality, ability etc): I think that film is overrated. | an overrated pleasure → opposite UNDERRATE
o·ver·reach /ˌəʊvə'riːtʃ/ v [T] to defeat (oneself) by trying to do or get too much
o·ver·re·act /ˌəʊvərɪ'ækt/ v [I{to}] to act too strongly as a result of (something): She tends to overreact to criticism. —ion /'ækʃn/ n [C;U]
o·ver·ride /ˌəʊvə'raɪd/ v -rode /'rəʊd/, -ridden /'rɪdn/ [T] to take no notice of (another person's orders, claims etc): He overrode their objections.
o·ver·rid·ing /ˌəʊvə'raɪdɪ/ adj [A] more important than anything else: a question of overriding importance
o·ver·rule /ˌəʊvə'ruːl/ v [T] to decide against (something already decided) by official power: The boss overruled me/my decision.
o·ver·run /ˌəʊvə'rʌn/ v -ran /'ræn/, -run 1 [T] (of something unwanted) to spread over in great numbers: The