overgrow

[ oh-ver-groh, oh-ver-groh ]

/ ˌoʊ vərˈgroʊ, ˈoʊ vərˌgroʊ /

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verb (used with object), o·ver·grew, o·ver·grown, o·ver·grow·ing.

to grow over; cover with a growth of something.

to grow beyond, grow too large for, or outgrow.

to outdo in growing; choke or supplant by a more exuberant growth.

verb (used without object), o·ver·grew, o·ver·grown, o·ver·grow·ing.

to grow to excess; grow too large: When the vegetable overgrows, it tends to be woody.

to become grown over, as with weeds: An untended garden will quickly overgrow.

Words related to overgrow

inundate, deluge, overwhelm, choke, ravage, beset, overflow, invade, spill, permeate, surge, overstep, swarm, surpass, overspread, overshoot

Words nearby overgrow

overgenerous, overgild, overglaze, overgraze, overground, overgrow, overgrowth, overhand, overhand knot, overhang, overhasty

Origin of overgrow

First recorded in 1300–50, overgrow is from the Middle English word overgrowen. See over-, grow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for overgrow

It is to be feared that this new Madrid will overgrow all that is left of the old city.
Things seen in Spain|C. Gasquoine Hartley
The trees do not come in bearing early, and are not suitable for dwarfing as they overgrow the quince stock.
The Pears of New York|U. P. Hedrick
They overgrow the dwarf stocks very strongly and thus do not have a very firm hold on the ground.
Dwarf Fruit Trees|F. A. Waugh
Genius grafted on womanhood is like to overgrow it and break its stem.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood

How had this subterranean vegetation contrived to pierce and overgrow the summit of the country?
History of the Commune of 1871|P. Lissagary

British Dictionary definitions for overgrow

overgrow

/ (ˌəʊvəˈɡrəʊ) /

verb -grows, -growing, -grew or -grown

(tr) to grow over or across (an area, path, lawn, etc)

(tr) to choke or supplant by a stronger growth

(tr) to grow too large for

(intr) to grow beyond normal size

Derived forms of overgrow

overgrowth, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012