overlap

Word parts

over- + lap

Pronunciation

• (UK)
  • (verb): enPR: ō'və-lăpʹ, IPA ^(key): /ˌəʊvəˈlæp/
  • (noun): enPR: ōʹvə-lăp', IPA ^(key): /ˈəʊvəˌlæp/
• (US)
  • (verb): enPR: ō'vər-lăpʹ, IPA ^(key): /ˌoʊvɚˈlæp/
  • (noun): enPR: ōʹvər-lăp', IPA ^(key): /ˈoʊvɚˌlæp/

Verb

Plain form overlap

Third-person singular overlaps

Past tense overlapped

Past participle overlapped

Present participle overlapping

1. Something overlaps on another thing if part of it is on top of, or at the same time as, the other thing.

   The shingles of a roof need to overlap to keep rain out.

   The shifts of the two workers (periods of time when they're working) need to overlap so that one worker can tell the other one what is happening.

Noun

Singular overlap

Plural overlaps

1. The act of overlapping. The amount that two things overlap on each other.

   More overlap keeps the rain out better, but needs more shingles to cover the roof.