overburden

[ verb oh-ver-bur-dn; noun oh-ver-bur-dn ]
See synonyms for: overburdenoverburdened on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to load with too great a burden; overload: He was overburdened with cares.

noun
  1. an excessive burden.

  2. Also called burden, capping. Mining. waste earth and rock covering a mineral deposit.

Origin of overburden

1
First recorded in 1570–80; over- + burden1

Words Nearby overburden

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use overburden in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for overburden

overburden

verb(ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdən)
  1. (tr) to load with excessive weight, work, etc

noun(ˈəʊvəˌbɜːdən)
  1. an excessive burden or load

  2. geology the sedimentary rock material that covers coal seams, mineral veins, etc

Derived forms of overburden

  • overburdensome, adjective

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