overlap

[oh-ver-lap, oh-ver-lap]

verb (used with object)

overlapped, overlapping 

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

2. to cover and extend beyond (something else).

   The ends of cloth overlap the table.

3. to coincide in part with; have in common with.

   two lives that overlapped each other.

verb (used without object)

overlapped, overlapping 

1. to lap over.

   two sales territories that overlap; fields of knowledge that overlap.

noun

1. an act or instance of overlapping.

2. the extent or amount of overlapping.

   The second story of the building has an overlap of ten feet.

3. an overlapping part.

4. the place of overlapping.

5. (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.

overlap

verb

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

2. to cover and extend beyond (something)

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

noun

1. a part that overlaps or is overlapped

2. the amount, length, etc, overlapping

3. the act or fact of overlapping

4. a place of overlapping

5. 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

Other Word Forms

• nonoverlapping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of overlap¹

First recorded in 1685–95; over- + lap ²

Example Sentences

Their personal reasons weren't always about climate change -- one cared about air pollution, another about animal cruelty -- but their efforts are helping to bring down planet-warming emissions all the same, showing how environmental causes overlap.

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But there’s still plenty of opportunity to check out the rare overlap of species from northern and southern California.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s an unexpected overlap, given environmentalists’ long history of fighting to protect old-growth forests in the region the owls call home.

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Simultaneous meetings of three of the top four are even more unusual, and it’s downright rare for all four banks’ meetings to overlap.

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If one were to draw a Venn diagram with “American Horror Story” in one circle and “American Crime Story” in the other, “Monster” would snugly fit in the overlap.

Read more on Salon