overlap — to cover partly by lying on top of something; to have something in common
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to cover partly by lying on top of something; to have something in common
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌoʊvərˈlæp/
Example Sentences
- My pizza slice overlaps with yours - now we're sharing pepperoni!
- The work schedules of the two departments overlap significantly.
- His snoring time overlaps perfectly with my study time - what are the odds?
overlap
VERB[/ˌoʊvərˈlæp/]
to cover partly by lying on top of something; to have something in common
The two circles overlap in the middle.
Their responsibilities overlap at work. (OVER + LAP = OVERLAP → one thing lies over part of another)
The routes overlap on the map.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word 'overlap' emerged in Middle English from the combination of 'over' (from Old English 'ofer', meaning 'above' or 'upon') and 'lap' (from Old English 'lapian', meaning 'to wrap' or 'to cover'). The semantic fusion created the sense of placing something above and covering another thing, eventually developing into the modern meaning of 'to coincide partly' or 'to cover partially'.
Breakdown
over- (above, upon) + lap (to wrap, to cover, from Old English lapian). The prefix 'over-' indicates position or action from above, while 'lap' contributes the sense of enfolding or covering.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My pizza slice overlaps with yours - now we're sharing pepperoni!”
“The work schedules of the two departments overlap significantly.”
“His snoring time overlaps perfectly with my study time - what are the odds?”
“The roof tiles should overlap to prevent water leakage.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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