overburden

American  

[oh-ver-bur-dn, oh-ver-bur-dn] / ˌoʊ vərˈbɜr dn, ˈoʊ vərˌbɜr dn /

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.

overburden British  

verb

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

---

noun

1. an excessive burden or load

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

Other Word Forms

• overburdensome adjective

Etymology

Origin of overburden

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

Example Sentences

State courts, which handle about 97% of all cases in the country, are particularly overburdened and have fewer resources.

From The Wall Street Journal

He cited concerns from constituents about overburdened social services in the area, according to local radio coverage of the meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Generally colliery tips were located on steep hillsides, whereas Ffos-y-Fran's overburden mounds sit "on ground with gentle gradients", with differences too in terms of how they were constructed and their drainage systems, they said.

From BBC

Braces reinforcing the legs of the overburdened tank snapped during the heavy shaking of the earthquake.

From Literature

The underlying rationale for corporate tax cuts has long been that American businesses were overburdened by taxes compared with their overseas colleagues.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• encumber
• oppress
• overwhelm