overspill

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

verb (used without object)

, o·ver·spilled or o·ver·spilt, o·ver·spill·ing.

1. to spill over.

noun

1. the act of spilling over.
2. something that spills over.
3. British. overflow.

overspill

noun

1. 1. something that spills over or is in excess
   2. ( as modifier )

      overspill population

verb

1. intr to overflow

Word History and Origins

Origin of overspill¹

First recorded in 1850–55; over- + spill ¹

Example Sentences

The Westerners are the overspill of the enterprising population of the East.

From Project Gutenberg

A Kaffir tribe to the north-east of the Rooirand had known of it, but they had never worked it, but only collected the overspill.

From Project Gutenberg