Library / English Dictionary

OVERLOAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An excessive burden

Synonyms:

overburden; overload

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("overload" is a kind of...):

burden; load; loading (weight to be borne or conveyed)

Derivation:

overload (fill to excess so that function is impaired)

overload (place too much a load on)

overload (become overloaded)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An electrical load that exceeds the available electrical power

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("overload" is a kind of...):

burden; load; loading (weight to be borne or conveyed)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fill to excess so that function is impaired

Example:

The story was clogged with too many details

Synonyms:

clog; overload

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "overload" is one way to...):

fill; fill up; make full (make full, also in a metaphorical sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

overload (an excessive burden)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Place too much a load on

Example:

don't overload the car

Synonyms:

overcharge; overload; surcharge

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "overload" is one way to...):

lade; laden; load; load up (fill or place a load on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

overload (an excessive burden)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Become overloaded

Example:

The aerator overloaded

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

overload (an excessive burden)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A device designed to open an electrical circuit when it becomes overloaded.

(Circuit Breaker Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

Hemosiderin (storage iron granules) may be present in areas of old hemorrhage or be deposited in tissues with iron overload.

(Iron Staining Method, NCI Thesaurus)

Iron overload may be inherited, or it may be caused by blood transfusions.

(Iron overload, NCI Dictionary)

Observed in 35% to 100% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, high serum ferritin levels may be due to ferritin production by the tumor cells, or related to the associated iron overload and/or cirrhosis.

(I 131 Antiferritin Immunoglobulin, NCI Thesaurus)

The overloaded and unwieldy sled forged ahead, Buck and his mates struggling frantically under the rain of blows.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Professor Ukena proposes that NPGL plays a vital role in these mechanisms — increasing appetite when energy levels fall and reducing appetite when an energy overload is detected — together, helping to keep us at a healthy and functioning weight, and more importantly alive!

(New Appetite Control Mechanism Found in Brain, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Also called iron overload.

(Hemochromatosis, NCI Dictionary)

As there were nine boats all told, it meant that we should have plenty of water, and ballast as well, though there was the chance that the boat would be overloaded, what of the generous supply of other things I was taking.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Prolonged lipid overload leads to increased levels of damaging substances called reactive oxygen species (ROS).

(Excess Fat Disrupts Heart Cell's Energy System, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Check your home’s wiring to be sure that no sockets are overloaded, for Uranus rules alternating electrical current.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)