overlap
[verb oh-ver-lap; noun oh-ver-lap]
- 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.
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- to lap over: two sales territories that overlap; fields of knowledge that overlap.
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- 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.
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Origin of overlap
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for overlap
Contemporary Examples
However, he saw the overlap of interests as being horribly negative.
In some areas, the overlap was even higher: 100 percent of plantations in Ghana overlapped.
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.
It's tempting to think their stories might overlap, but not quite.
Historical Examples
The top is also cut to shape from cigar-box wood, and should overlap about 1/4 inch.
Boys' Book of Model BoatsRaymond Francis Yates
When setting the legs on to the band, place them so as to overlap each other.
The Ladies' Work-Table BookAnonymous
So numerous are these old pictures that they overlap each other upon the walls.
MexicoCharles Reginald Enock
In less than ten minutes her head will overlap the stern of her rival.
The QuadroonMayne Reid
Slowly but surely his shell began to overlap that of Si Peters.
The Young Oarsmen of LakeviewRalph Bonehill
overlap
- (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
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- 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
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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
n.
1813, from overlap (v.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
overlap
(ō′vər-lăp′)- A part or portion of a structure that extends or projects over another.
- The suturing of one layer of tissue above or under another layer to provide additional strength, often used in dental surgery.
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- To lie over and partly cover something.
- To perform a surgical overlap.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.