overlap

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR overlap ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), o·ver·lapped, o·ver·lap·ping.

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

to cover and extend beyond (something else): The ends of cloth overlap the table.

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.

to lap over: two sales territories that overlap; fields of knowledge that overlap.

noun

an act or instance of overlapping.

the extent or amount of overlapping: The second story of the building has an overlap of ten feet.

an overlapping part.

the place of overlapping.

(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.

Origin of overlap

First recorded in 1685–95; over- + lap²

Related formsnon·o·ver·lap·ping, adjective, noun

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

Related Words for overlap

flap, overlay, ride, project, overhang, protrude, overrun, imbricate, shingle, overlie

Examples from the Web for overlap

Contemporary Examples of overlap

However, he saw the overlap of interests as being horribly negative.
Arabs Are the Michael Browns of Israel
Dean Obeidallah
December 3, 2014
In some areas, the overlap was even higher: 100 percent of plantations in Ghana overlapped.
Our Taste for Cheap Palm Oil Is Killing Chimpanzees
Carrie Arnold
July 11, 2014
American government works because we have overlap between federal, state, and local governments.
The VA Crisis Can’t Be Solved by Washington, D.C. Alone. Local Authorities Need to Step Up.
Kristen Rouse
June 9, 2014
What we call “culture” refers to a broad range of concepts and ideas that overlap and diverge at various points.
How Much Does 'Culture' Matter for 'Inner-City' Poverty?
Jamelle Bouie
March 20, 2014
It's tempting to think their stories might overlap, but not quite.
The Bioterrorist Who Loved Mahler
Ron Hogan
January 25, 2014

Historical Examples of overlap

The top is also cut to shape from cigar-box wood, and should overlap about 1/4 inch.
Boys' Book of Model Boats
Raymond Francis Yates
When setting the legs on to the band, place them so as to overlap each other.
The Ladies' Work-Table Book
Anonymous
So numerous are these old pictures that they overlap each other upon the walls.
Mexico
Charles Reginald Enock
In less than ten minutes her head will overlap the stern of her rival.
The Quadroon
Mayne Reid
Slowly but surely his shell began to overlap that of Si Peters.
The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview
Ralph Bonehill

British Dictionary definitions for overlap

overlap

verb (ˌəʊvəˈlæp) -laps, -lapping or -lapped

(of two things) to extend or lie partly over (each other)

to cover and extend beyond (something)

(intr) to coincide partly in time, subject, etc

noun (ˈəʊvəˌlæp)

a part that overlaps or is overlapped

the amount, length, etc, overlapping

the act or fact of overlapping

a place of overlapping

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

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

Word Origin and History for overlap

"to partially extend over," 1726, over- + lap (v.). Related: Overlapped; overlapping.

1813, from overlap (v.).

overlap in Medicine