overlap

[ verb oh-ver-lap; noun oh-ver-lap ]

verb (used with object)

, o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

1. to lap over (something else or each other); extend over and cover a part of; imbricate.
2. to cover and extend beyond (something else):

   The ends of cloth overlap the table.

3. to coincide in part with; have in common with:

   two lives that overlapped each other.

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

1. to lap over:

   two sales territories that overlap; fields of knowledge that overlap.

noun

1. an act or instance of overlapping.
2. the extent or amount of overlapping:

   The second story of the building has an overlap of ten feet.

3. an overlapping part.
4. the place of overlapping.
5. (in yacht racing) the position of two yachts side by side such that the overtaking boat, to pass the other on the opposite side, must fall back, or such that neither can turn toward the other without danger of collision.

overlap

verb

1. (of two things) to extend or lie partly over (each other)
2. to cover and extend beyond (something)
3. intr to coincide partly in time, subject, etc

noun

1. a part that overlaps or is overlapped
2. the amount, length, etc, overlapping
3. the act or fact of overlapping
4. a place of overlapping
5. geology the horizontal extension of the upper beds in a series of rock strata beyond the lower beds, usually caused by submergence of the land

Other Words From

• nono·ver·lapping adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overlap¹

First recorded in 1685–95; over- + lap ²

Example Sentences

However, he saw the overlap of interests as being horribly negative.

From The Daily Beast

Both Huckabee and Santorum had considerable overlap in their support during their respective presidential bids.

From The Daily Beast

In some areas, the overlap was even higher: 100 percent of plantations in Ghana overlapped.

From The Daily Beast

In our current configuration of religious interest groups, we find significant overlap with party politics.

From The Daily Beast

American government works because we have overlap between federal, state, and local governments.

From The Daily Beast

The man on the girl's right seemed to overlap her possessively which could have been accounted for by the width of his shoulders.

From Project Gutenberg

But it must not be forgotten that both the departments themselves and the evidence for them frequently overlap.

From Project Gutenberg

Even in his bare feet, which you saw with your own eyes, he'd overlap those prints a half inch all around.

From Project Gutenberg

Any tinsmith will turn up the sides for you, leaving the front a little higher than the others, so as to overlap the netting.

From Project Gutenberg

The butt straps where they overlap are forged so as to fit one another as shown, and thus form a close joint.

From Project Gutenberg