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.

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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

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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

He occasionally overburdens the reader with minutiae of political and organizational rivalries and is more workman than stylist.

From The Wall Street Journal

People, the report says, were deterred from accessing health care because they did not want to overburden the NHS.

From BBC

My cold, hard heart was in top form, and it was not taking prisoners, including sick ones, tired ones, or overburdened ones, in particular.

From Literature

On the other hand, technology has already overburdened us with too many stressors and microtasks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The overburdened sergeant rarely gets more than two hours of uninterrupted sleep.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• encumber
• oppress
• overwhelm